Part of the Glyn Academies Trust

Darwin Class- Nursery

Curriculum Overview

 

Wider Curriculum

This term our STEAM focus is Technology and we will be answering the question ‘Can I design and build a structure using my knowledge and understanding of historical periods?’

We will be exploring the following principles within each of the specific areas:

Understanding the World:

  • The World: 

​We get light from different places, some lights are natural lights and some are made.

Electricity and fire can both provide us with light but need to be used safely

 

  • People and Communities:

Throughout the year there are different celebrations people celebrate

Diwali is a Festival of Light celebrated by Hindu communities

Christmas is a celebration of the birth of Jesus and a star led the way to the stable where he was born.

  • Technology:

Not all lights look or work the same

      Light is turned on by a switch

Mathematics

  • Children will be counting forwards as well as backwards from 5 or 3
  • Children will show an interest in shape and will be learning the 2D shape names for a square, rectangle, diamond, pentagon and a star.
  • The children will be learning to recognise numbers 1-5 using different representations. 
  • Children will be learning to order objects by length.

 

Expressive Arts and Design, Exploring media and materials:

  • Children will explore construction materials and make a variety of objects with these and enclose spaces to form 3D structures.
  • Children will select materials they want to use for a lantern.
  • Children will experiment with joining materials together and learn how to do this.
  • Children will create an individual lamp/lantern

 

 Talk through stories:

Our Talk Through Story sessions inspire our children in Nursery. We love exploring new texts and really getting to grips with the story line, identifying the problems, the solutions and becoming familiar with the key characters within each story. This term we will be focusing on: 

  • Owl babies
  • Peace at Last
  • Can’t you sleep little bear?
  • Wonky Donkey
  • Stick Man
  • One Snowy Night

 

The areas of learning and development:

There are seven areas of learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are the prime areas:

Communication and language

The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children's language effectively. Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive.

Physical development

Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, co-ordination, and positional awareness.

Personal, social and emotional development

PSED is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives and is fundamental to their cognitive development. Underpinning their personal development are the important attachments that shape their social world. Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others.

 

Talking with your child:

Research shows speaking, listening, and understanding are central to every aspect of our lives. A child’s later educational success stems from their ability to express their needs, learn how the world works and communicate with others. These websites show short simple videos, such as when to introduce new vocabulary or how to have engaging back and forth conversation with your child.   

Improving oral health

Start good oral health habits from the earliest age with your child to prevent tooth decay. Sadly, it is still a serious problem among young children, with tooth extraction being one of the most common procedures for children under 6 in hospital. Watch this video to learn more about ways to start and support your child’s oral health.

Phonics and early reading

Reading is a vital life skill, children who have stories and rhymes read to them regularly, will have the opportunity to open the doors to so many different worlds. More importantly, reading will give your child the tools to become independent lifelong learners. We can achieve this together through the Read Write Inc program to help your child learn to read fluently.

Encouraging children to develop a love of books by reading to them daily and by giving them access to a wide range of books at home, at school, local library and through online resources such as

Additional guidance for parents.

A parent’s guide as to what to expect in the early years along with a locally developed app, 50 things to do before you’re 5, in Oxfordshire!