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Nursery Cherry Class
Welcome to our Nursery Class
At West Oxford Community Primary School, we believe the nursery year is a special and important first step in your child’s educational journey. It is a time of discovery, exploration and exciting new experiences, where children are encouraged to develop their curiosity, confidence and independence in a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment.
We want every child to develop a lifelong love of learning from the very beginning. Through play, exploration and carefully planned experiences, we provide opportunities for children to develop their knowledge, skills and understanding, while celebrating their individuality and helping them to grow into happy, confident learners.
We believe that the strongest foundations are built when home and school work together. We value the close partnerships we develop with parents and carers, sharing experiences, celebrating progress and working together to support every child’s development. By working in partnership, we can make these precious early years a positive, rewarding and memorable start to your child’s education.
Our Early Years Curriculum
Our Nursery curriculum is built around the seven areas of learning and development within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These areas are interconnected, with learning in one area often supporting and strengthening learning in another.
The three prime areas provide the foundations for children's learning and development:
- Communication and Language – developing listening, attention, understanding and speaking skills.
- Physical Development – developing gross and fine motor skills, coordination, movement and independence.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development – developing confidence, resilience, relationships, self-regulation and a positive sense of self.
The four specific areas build on these foundations and enable children to strengthen and apply their developing knowledge and skills:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Throughout Nursery, children follow a carefully planned curriculum that builds on what they already know, can do and understand. Through engaging, purposeful play, children develop their knowledge, skills and confidence while nurturing curiosity and independence. These strong foundations prepare children to become enthusiastic, confident learners as they move into Reception.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning
Weaving throughout the EYFS curriculum are three Characteristics of Effective Learning;
Playing and Exploring - children investigate and experience things, and 'have a go'
Active Learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
Creating and Thinking Critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
Learning Through Enquiry
As part of West Oxford Community Primary School, our Nursery children learn through our Enquiry Curriculum, which places questioning at the heart of learning.
Each term begins with a WOW focus, which is explored through a series of smaller enquiry questions. Children investigate these questions through stories, discussion, exploration, play, practical experiences and carefully planned activities.
Through this approach, children are encouraged to be curious, ask questions, investigate, make connections and develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Learning through Play and Continuous Provision
Play is at the heart of our Nursery provision. We provide long, uninterrupted periods of continuous provision, giving children the time and freedom to become deeply involved in their learning.
Our environment is carefully designed to encourage children to engage, play, investigate, communicate and solve problems. We use a range of open-ended resources which can be used in many different ways, encouraging creativity, imagination and higher-order thinking.
The Role of the Adult
Our adults play a crucial role in supporting children's learning and development. We carefully observe children as they play and learn, allowing us to respond to their individual needs and interests.
Our observations help us plan meaningful experiences, adapt our environment and identify opportunities to build on children's interests. This ensures that learning remains purposeful, engaging and responsive to each child.
Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of our Early Years provision. We use a continuous cycle of observation, assessment and planning to understand what children know, understand and can do, and to identify the next steps in their learning.
Observing children in their everyday play enables adults to respond in the moment, providing support, challenge and encouragement when it is most meaningful.
Children are also regularly assessed against the stages of development across all seven areas of learning.
Through careful assessment, we quickly identify where children may need extra support and provide targeted teaching and encouragement to help them make progress.
For more information about our Nursery provision please read our EYFS Policy
West Oxford School EYFS Policy
