Curriculum & Activities Nursery

2 year olds:

The Pre-Birth to Three Document is used by our nursery staff to provide the quality experiences a child needs at this stage as they begin to assert their independence and individuality.

• Music, songs, rhymes, musical instruments, action songs (‘ring-a-rosie’, ‘this little piggy’) to develop language skills, physical development and expression through music
• Children will be encouraged to access resources and exercise freedom of choice about the activities they wish to participate in.
• Stimulating conversation, interactive play and learning to socialise, share and make friends is all part of the day.
• Walks and outdoor play for health, fitness, physical development and learning about ‘the world around us’.
• Heuristic Play (play using everyday objects such as wooden spoons and pans which encourages curiosity and exploration and offers opportunities to categorise and compare)
• The nursery staff supports children through toilet training and developing independence at meal times in a secure, loving environment.

Children will also be able to participate in:

• Extensive selection of books, stories, poems and rhymes to encourage communication and language.
• Musical instruments, singing, action songs, musical games, music and movement.
• Daily opportunities for outdoor play for health, fitness and physical development.
• Introduction to computer skills through the supervised use of interactive educational programmes. The nursery also has a wide range of interactive toys and resources to further I.T knowledge.
• Sand play, water play to introduce early science concepts such as pouring, measuring, wet, dry, full, empty.
• Extensive opportunities for encouraging expressive development through painting, gluing and drawing using a variety of art materials.
• Play dough and clay are sensory experiences which encourage small motor skills in hands and fingers.
• Role play through dressing up, using puppets and ‘let’s pretend’ in the home corner. Children use role play to make sense of the world around them through acting out familiar experiences.
• Cooking and baking helps develop science knowledge such as measuring and weighing. Healthy eating habits are also encouraged.
• Planting and growing activities both in the garden and indoors to encourage the children to care for living things and gain knowledge of nature and the world around them.
• An extensive range of construction toys such as bricks and lego to encourage small motor skills in the fingers and hands.

In the Pre-school Room children will have the opportunity to experience a range of activities which meet all eight areas of the curriculum. They will be introduced to early reading, writing, maths and science skills. These activities are delivered in a fun, relaxed manner allowing all children to learn naturally through play. Each child is encouraged to learn at their own pace within their own capabilities.

Parents can keep up to date with their children's learning and development through the Famly app. Once a child has commenced their placement, we work with parents to ensure details are correct in how you can login to your child’s individual journal.

Ante-preschool and Preschool:

The children can participate in all the activities mentioned previously for the under 3’s although these activities are more structured and are offered at a level suited to their age.

Your child will also have the opportunity to experience:

• Interest Tables e.g. a harvest table with wheat, flour, bread or a beach table with shells, sand, pebbles, seaweed. The children are encouraged to experiment and explore the items on the table freely.
• Writing Table – to introduce children to mark making and ‘writing’ using a variety of pens and pencils. Children are encouraged to use the writing table freely which develops pencil control for more formal writing later.
• Science Experiments e.g. simply showing the children that flowers ‘drink’ water by placing a white flower in a vase of coloured water – the flower will become the colour of the water.
• Computer Skills – children have access to a computer, printer and digital camera in the Pre-school Room.  Interactive, educational software helps your child learn basic mouse skills such as point, click, point and drag, scrolling etc.  Your child will be able to take their own photographs and print them out to include in their portfolio if they wish.  There are also many other interactive games and resources available for your child to use.

The Curriculum for Excellence (3 to 18 Years)

The Curriculum for Excellence was introduced within a strong partnership between the Scottish Government, Learning and Teaching Scotland, Scottish Qualifications Authority and HM Inspectorate of Education to ensure pre-school children’s developmental needs are met. The emphasis is on learning through quality play experiences in a relaxed atmosphere. There are eight areas of the curriculum:

• Health and Wellbeing (specialist PE lessons)
• Language and Literacy (specialist Modern Language lessons)
• Mathematics and Numeracy
• Expressive Arts (specialist Music lessons)
• Religious and Moral Education
• Science
• Social Studies
• Technology

The Curriculum for Excellence aims to:

1.  Focus playroom practice upon the child and around the four capacities of education:

• successful learners
• confident individuals
• responsible citizens
• effective contributors
  
  2. Encourage more learning through experiences
  3. Create a single framework for the curriculum and assessment aged 3 to 18 years.

For further information visit: www.curriculumforexcellencescotland.gov.uk