Section Four

 

The Nursery Curriculum

The programme for learning at Glenfield Pre-Five Centre reflects the four capacities of the Scottish Executive’s “Curriculum for Excellence” – successful learners, confident individuals,  responsible citizens and effective contributors and the 4 R’s of ‘Pre Birth to 3 Positive Outcomes for Children and Families –  respect, responsive care, rights of the child and  relationships.

 

In each playroom, activities and opportunities are offered to support and extend the children’s learning. Areas within the playrooms are carefully organised to encourage the children to explore and investigate at their own pace.

 

Children are encouraged to develop the organisational skills which help them to choose materials, set small targets, to persevere with a task, and to tidy away afterwards. The focus on such organisational skills is particularly important for children with additional support needs.

 

Activities offered encourage children to actively explore, use their senses, to ask questions and to problem-solve by estimating, guessing, experimenting, reasoning and finding practical solutions.

 

Our play based curriculum is designed to promote the seven principles of Curriculum for Excellence in learning over the eight experiences and outcomes.

 

EXPERIENCES & OUTCOMES	COMPONENTS
Health & Wellbeing	Supports and nurtures children – health and wellbeing Ensure a positive ethos – respect and value individuals Building relationships Promoting healthy lifestyles and care for the environment
Literacy & English	Verbal communication Listening and talking skills Early literacy
Numeracy & Mathematics	Early maths skills Number, measured and shape
Expressive Arts	Music and dance Art and design Drama and role play
Religious & Moral	Supportive climate for learning, promoting an ethos of inclusion and respect for individuals
Science	Using senses to investigate the environment Active learning and planned purposeful play
Social Studies	Active learning together to promote, observe, explore, experiment and play indoors and outdoors
Technologies	Use of ICT and technology to enhance learning
DESIGN PRINCIPLES	Challenge & Enjoyment, Personalisation & Choice, Relevance, Coherence, Breadth, Progression and Depth in Learning

Active Learning Experiences

Through active learning children are engaged and challenged in their thinking and involved in planning for their own learning.

Children and staff use mind mapping techniques to ensure children’s ideas and interests are recorded and used to plan active learning experiences.

Planning for Individual Learning

The individual learning needs of each child are identified by a process of ongoing observation and assessment. Nursery staff make written observation within the playroom on a regular basis. These observations allow staff to respond and adjust the curriculum to meet the learning needs of the children.

Individual Educational Programmes/Support Plans/Stepped Interventions are planned and implemented for children who require support for learning. In some cases Coordinated Support Plans are put in place.

Individual Assessment, Recording and Reporting

Assessment is based on observations of children’s learning. This is recorded in your child’s portfolio which contains evidence of learning and includes photographs and examples of your child’s work.

Parents are encouraged to contribute evidence of learning at home to these records.

Children themselves are also involved in selecting examples for inclusion in their portfolio. Staff and parents can have informal discussions about children’s progress, as required. In addition, more formal reporting meetings are held in the autumn/spring term. Parents and key workers meet at this time to review and discuss their child’s progress. A summative Transfer of Information Form is also prepared at this time for children moving on to school. With the parents permission, all other reports are passed to their child’s new school, new nursery or new key worker.

Nursery/Primary Liaison

Glenfield Pre-Five Centre has developed very good links with local primary and special schools and there is a yearly programme in place to promote active links. An open week for P1 teachers is held in June and this provides an opportunity for school staff to meet the children in the nursery setting and to talk to staff about the children’s learning and development. In addition, this visit allows the children to show their new teachers their records of achievement. The summative Transfer of Information forms are also passed to teachers at this time.

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning is an entitlement for your child. It is a natural environment and an extension of the indoor environment. All aspects of the early years curriculum and the four capacities within Curriculum for Excellence can be promoted successfully outdoors. Children in the centre will be given many opportunities, activities and experiences outside, which will include regular opportunities to learn through play within their local woodland and/or nursery setting. To allow us to do this it is a requirement that children are suitably dressed for all weathers!

Nursery staff and parents regularly audit the effectiveness of the nursery curriculum and overall quality of service using the “Child at the Centre”. H.M.I.E. and Care Commission also conduct regular inspections and report on the quality of education and care within the Centre.