Welcome to Keys Meadow Nursery Purpose of today To explain how we teach, what we teach and why we teach in a particular way in the Nursery To understand the importance of early Personal, Emotional and Social skills To know the expectations for the children at the end of the Nursery year To know how you as parents can support and your child with their learning

How do we approach teaching in Nursery? We consider our provision, planning, teaching and assessing – All linked to the EYFS curriculum Early Years education should be about having fun and developing a love of learning. EYFS curriculum which is based on 7 areas of learning 1.Personal, Social and Emotional Development 2.Communication and Language 3.Physical Development 4.Literacy 5.Mathematics 6.Understanding of the World 7.Expressive Arts and Design

How important are the early stages of learning to communicate? Why is Communication and Language a Prime area of Learning and Development? It is an essential foundation for children to develop well across all areas of learning. Children who learn to understand and use more words in their early years are likely to do well as they continue on through school. Communicating thoughts and feelings helps to build strong relationships with other people. Language is a central part of how we share information and ideas, and of teaching all subjects in school. Learning to read and write depends on being able to understand and use language - reading is simply a recorded form of understanding language, and writing is recording what you want to say. Language helps children to be clear in their thinking. When children can say what they want and feel, it helps them to deal with frustrations and behave in more constructive ways.

Construction

Reading

Music

Information and technology

Mark making

Imaginative and role-play

Cooking

Mathematics

Sand and Water Play

Creative

Understanding of the World

Physical Development

How do we approach teaching in Nursery? Planning Based on Children’s interest – child initiated learning All areas of learning planned for but focused on Prime areas of PSED, C&L, PD Focus activities planned for each day of the week Group sessions planned carefully Teaching Most ‘Teaching’ is done by play partnering alongside the children and extending, supporting and questioning Focus activities – planned to meet children’s needs at their level Group sessions – planned daily and delivered in different groups depending of child’s needs Focus week – Learning journeys are planned to target particular areas of need for a child Assessing Regular observations Group assessments Focus week – school and parents discuss children’s progress and attainment

Expectations for the end of Nursery What do you want your child to have achieved by the end of the year ? We want Happy children who can work on their own and with others Motivated learners Children who will take risks and try again when something is hard Confident communicators Independent in looking after their own needs Children who see themselves as writers, readers, mathematicians, artists

What can parents do to help their child get the most from Nursery? ‘As parents you are the child’s first and most enduring educators’ (EYFS curriculum guidance, 2000) The foundations for academic learning are all based in children developing their Personal, Social and Emotional skills and their skills in Communication and Language. Promote your child’s Independence 1. Realistic expectations. Children will live up (or down) to the expectations we set. Putting on coats/shoes, walking to and from school, going to the toilet by themselves, pouring drinks into their own cups, feeding themselves. 2. Resist doing for her what she can do herself. While it may be quicker and easier to do it yourself, it won't help to make your child more self-sufficient. Appeal to their sense of pride or make it into a challenge. 3. Don't redo what they've done. If your child makes her bed, resist the urge to smooth the blankets. Unless absolutely necessary, don't fix what your child accomplishes. 4. Let them solve simple problems. – VIDEO CLIP - Ruby 5. Give them jobs to help you – cooking dinner, doing the washing, hanging out the clothes

Is anyone thinking that’s all fine but my child won’t do it? Winning Cooperation 1. Praise is key. Try to catch them being good. Children repeat behaviours that get attention. 2. Develop predictable routines. Children respond best when they know what's expected of them. In Nursery children follow essentially the same routine everyday, so they quickly learn what they are supposed to be doing, and after a while barely need reminding. 3. Turn it into a game, make it fun. Tidying up often a problem 4. Warn of transitions. Offer a count down to events such as bath-time or getting ready for school. Set a timer. 5. Sticker charts and rewards. Note of warning. Don’t over use rewards 6. Give structured choices. 7. Prioritize play. Play with your child, value the importance of time together dressing-up and role-play, be creative together with paint and paper, a big cardboard box, play dough. 8. Let your child work out minor squabbles. Instead of swooping in to settle disputes, stand back and let them work it out (unless they're hitting each other). You won't always be there to rescue your child. 9. Pick your battles.

What can Parents do? Take them to the library Play games together or as a family – work on taking turns and sharing Read everyday and talk about the books – even the same books again and again so that they develop confidence with stories VHC video clip Talk to your child about anything and everything Involve them in all aspects of the family life – shopping lists, washing up, tidying Look for opportunities for them to play with other children Go to the park and explore the outdoors encouraging physical development Let them get dirty and know it is okay Sing Nursery rhymes and songs Use maths in everyday situations – paying for something in the shops, counting the steps upstairs Look at the ‘Parents Guide to ….’ Attend parent workshops, curriculum meetings Let your child enjoy being a child - National Trust list