Early Years

nursery reception

The Nursery Class provides a very happy introduction to pre-school education for children aged 3 and 4. A typical Nursery day offers an exciting range of structured and free activities and play. The nursery teachers and support staff nurture the children’s social and emotional development, giving each child a sound start for their move into Reception a year later.

There is a safe outside play area, where all Early Years children can run around and enjoy themselves within a creative and fun environment.

On reaching Reception, the children have their first taste of a full school week. Like the Nursery, there is a careful balance between work and play. For children who have not transferred from Sidcot’s Nursery year, this may well be their first taste of school life and particular attention is paid to settling them in, establishing friendships and learning consideration for others.

Nursery

When visiting the Nursery Class, you find a bright, spacious environment where each child can grow academically and personally. Equal emphasis is placed on the six areas of learning: personal and social, language and literacy, mathematics, knowledge and understanding the world, physical development and creative development. Through activities, the children are encouraged to become enquiring and confident learners who can discover independently, as well as with adult guidance.

'Circle time' is an opportunity for the children to develop a personal, social and moral awareness, with discussions about sharing, turn taking and helping the Nursery. Children are encouraged to work within certain (class-negotiated) boundaries regarding appropriate behaviour.

Topics change every half term, along with display boards and our Home Corner. The importance of home-school links is vital and parents/carers are encouraged to become involved in classroom activities and trips. We suggest the children look at home for artefacts and books relating to topics and bring them in to show. This helps to give children responsibility for their own learning, and home and school are seen as two environments that compliment each other, rather than conflict. Our parents are very supportive of this home-school philosophy and appreciate the regular feedback they get as a result.

nurseryWe know that the transfer from Nursery to the next stage can be difficult, so to minimise any problems that might crop up, we work closely with the Reception Class. As a result, Nursery children feel at home in the Reception Class surrounding, and vice versa.

Reception

The children’s learning gradually incorporates the National Numeracy and Literacy strategies as the year progresses.

We work closely with the Nursery Class and there is a bright, lively and stimulating atmosphere that presents children with a range of experiences that will give them opportunities to develop key skills and interests.

Both Nursery Class and Reception Class have a swimming lesson each week and French lessons begin in Reception with a specialist teacher.

Every half term we concentrate on a particular theme. Past examples have been:



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