Pre-school Curriculum
The Nest benefits from a bespoke curriculum designed to ensure that we capture each child’s curiosity, enabling them to fully explore and develop their ideas. Our curriculum is based on the following principles:
- Children are supported to learn and develop at their own unique pace
- Play is an essential aspect of each child’s learning and development
- Learning happens when developmentally-appropriate, teacher supported and child-initiated experiences harness a child’s natural curiosity in an enabling environment
- Learning should be motivating, engaging and fun, opening up a world of wonder for children where personal interests can flourish.
The Nest’s approach is play based and child-initiated, covering all of the key areas of the EYFS. We aim for the perfect balance between the child-led times, where staff work alongside the children, and teacher-led sessions, building the children’s basic skills and understanding. Phonics, early reading skills and numeracy are part of each day’s provision and innovative and exciting theme based topics are the vehicle for building skills in subjects such as History, Geography, Science, RE and Art. Physical development remains an important part of the EYFS and the children in The Nest have plenty of opportunities to develop their skills through their Sports Stars sessions, dance and Outdoor Learning. They also have the opportunity to swim each week in our 25 metre indoor heated swimming pool. Building the skills needed in preparation for school is hugely important and so the children gather on the carpet for teacher–led activities and use the interactive whiteboard to aid their learning in whole group sessions. They also benefit from interactions with the older Pre-Prep children, learning, socialising and eating with Reception on a regular basis.
Enhanced Provision Programme
At the Nest we aim to provide something each and every day that goes beyond the expectations of the EYFS. These sessions will often utilise the skills of our specialist staff or make the most of our specialist facilities. Each activity will broaden the children’s experiences, ensuring that their daily provision is second to none.
STEAM Club
Fostering STEM learning at an early age helps children to develop a can-do attitude and a positive mindset as well as encouraging the growth of curiosity and creativity necessary later in life. The sessions will focus on discovery and exploration allowing opportunities for critical thinking. STEM activities, even at this young age can encourage dialogue and discussion, collaboration and observation skills and working as a team to solve problems and test out their ideas. What looks like play is actually intense learning!
Create Club
Children need to learn through first hand experiences. They will be encouraged to explore, observe, solve problems, think critically, make decisions and to talk about the reasons for their decisions. Through asking brilliant questions, children become curious and use their imaginations. Most importantly Create Club is all about developing CREATIVITY which is a crucial skill for children of any age. These sessions led by our specialist art teachers include art and craft activities, Design Technology, moulding malleable materials, learning to construct with purpose, using simple tools, building, constructing, designing and reviewing.
Rhythm Time
A great deal of research is currently being done about the positive effects that exposure to music and music instruction has on the brain. A wealth of studies now suggest that music even accelerates the brain development of young children, particularly in the areas responsible for language development, sound, reading skills and speech perception. Music is one of the things that children love from a very young age and taught well, will instil a lifelong love of music in your child. Rhythm time will involve singing, rhythm games, movement, playing instruments and using symbols to start reading and writing music. We will be busy using a range of percussion instruments and props such as puppets, parachutes, scarves, pom poms and bubbles and of course the children’s own voices.
Sports Stars
Children need to be physically active every day to promote their healthy growth and development. Children who establish healthy lifestyle patterns at a young age will carry them – and their benefits – forward for the rest of their lives. Physical activity can promote self-esteem, stronger bones, muscles and joints, better posture and balance, collaboration and team work skills, social interaction with friends and better focus and concentration during school. These lively and fun sessions will aim to develop children’s balance, coordination, agility and speed. Through individual and team games and challenges, children will not even realise they are developing skills, they will be having so much fun!
Outdoor Learning
Outdoor Learning sessions offer regular sustained opportunities for learning in an outdoor environment, making the most of the wonderful 90 acres of grounds at Bilton Grange. These sessions will aim to build the children’s confidence, independence and resilience, communication and collaboration skills.