2. 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 the Prime areas of learning including Personal, Emotional and Social development, Communication and Language and Physical development 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

3. How do we approach teaching in Nursery? We deliver the curriculum through play based learning opportunities which allow children to make choices, take risks, solve problems and learn from their mistakes. OFSTED said about our Early Years: “Outstanding teaching in the early years provides strong support and challenge that extend children’s learning.” June 2015 We constantly review our provision, planning, teaching and assessments. All learning is linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage document and comes from 7 areas of learning.

4. Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum In Nursery we focus on the Prime areas of learning, areas 1-3

5. How important are the early stages of learning to communicate? 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 is the foundation 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.

6. How important are the early stages of Personal, Emotional and Social development? It is one of the building blocks of success in life. It supports children’s development by helping them to interact effectively and develop positive attitudes towards themselves and others. It is an essential foundation for children to develop well across all areas of learning. It helps children develop confidence in who they are and what they can do and in expressing their own ideas. It focuses on children understanding the need to build good relationships with others. It allows children the time to learn about their own feelings and the feelings of others and through good teaching we are able to teach children how to manage their feelings. It focuses on children developing good learning behaviours which will support them throughout their life.

7. How important are the early stages of Physical development? Children develop their control of their body to walk, balance, skip and climb. They learn to share the space with other children and be aware of obstacles around them. It focuses on children developing their control and coordination. Children develop body-confidence which encourages them to try new things, take risks and get to know what their bodies can do and its limitations. They learn about the effects of a healthy life style on their bodies. This includes all the factors that affect healthy development including making healthy food choices. They learn a lot about managing their personal needs, such as dressing and undressing themselves, getting a snack or drink when needed, selecting things they need and putting them away when finished. They develop the strength of smaller muscles which they need to manipulate to be-able to pick things up, grip securely and ultimately use pencils or writing tools.

8. Provision Discussion time Looking at the pictures in a small group can we think about how this provision supports children to develop in those Prime Areas of: Communication and Language Personal, Social and Emotional development Physical Development

9. Construction

10. Cookin g

11. Creative

12. Sand and Water Play

13. Sensory play

14. Understanding of the World

15. Imaginative and role-play

16. Physical Development

17. How do we approach teaching in Nursery? Planning Based on Children’s interests and needs – child initiated learning Focus activities planned for each day of the week Group sessions planned carefully Planning will be linked closely to the areas of learning, focusing on the prime areas of learning and delivered through a thoughtful and well planned learning environment both indoors and outdoors Teaching Most ‘Teaching’ is done by play partnering alongside the children and extending, supporting and questioning Balance of child initiated and adult directed learning Focus week – Learning journeys are planned to target particular areas of need for a child Assessment Regular observations carried out on all children Group assessments during focus activities Focus week – school and parents discuss children’s progress and attainment with the child’s key worker

18. 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

19. 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’ Promote your child’s independence by: 1. Having realistic expectations. 2. Resist doing for her what she can do herself. 3. Don't redo what they've done. 4. Let them solve simple problems. – VIDEO CLIP – Ruby reaches for a toy 5. Give them jobs to help you.

20. Is anyone thinking that’s all fine but my child won’t do it? Winning Cooperation 1. Praise is key. 2. Develop predictable routines. 3. Turn it into a game, make it fun. 4. Warn of transitions. 5. Sticker charts and rewards. 6. Give structured choices. 7. Prioritize play. 8. Let your child work out minor squabbles. 9. Pick your battles.

21. What else 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 https://www.50things.org.uk