Nursery
Summer 2 Curriculum Newsletter
Nursery
Welcome back to Term 6 in Nursery!
We hope you had a restful half term and are looking forward to the term ahead. We are very much looking forward to this term and our new STEAM topic and I am sure the children will enjoy it too.
Warm weather
Now that the weather is warmer, please ensure that your child is sent to school wearing sun cream and with a hat (please ensure this has your child’s name inside). If you would like your child to reapply their sun cream at lunchtime, please send it in their bag clearly labelled with their name – children will then be prompted to reapply throughout the day and given support to do so if needed.
Although we expect good weather this term, we continue to make the most of our outdoor learning environment each day. Because of this, it is still essential that children have a named coat in school every day. As always, please ensure that all of your child’s belongings are clearly labelled so that they can be easily returned if misplaced.
As ever, it is important that children have access to fresh drinking water each day, please ensure the bottle is labelled with your child's name. We are passionate about promoting good oral hygiene and healthy teeth so please ensure water bottles are filled with water only; please save juice for a treat at lunch time.
The areas of learning and development
There are seven areas of learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.
Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are the prime areas:
- Communication and language: the number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children's language effectively. Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive.
- Physical development: Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, co-ordination and positional awareness.
- Personal, social and emotional development: PSED is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives and is fundamental to their cognitive development. Underpinning their personal development are the important attachments that shape their social world. Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others.
We also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
STEAM
This term our STEAM focus is preforming arts, and we will be answering the question ‘Can I explore cultures and celebrations from around the world? The children will be working towards preparing for and organising their own class party celebration to mark the end of the academic year.
Reading
We are continuing to enjoy ‘Talk Through Stories’ this term, which provides the opportunity for children to really explore key texts, understand the principle of the story, learn new vocabulary and explore new characters. Each week we will focus on one key text which the children will become very familiar with.
Our literacy key texts for this will be:
- The Best Birthday Present Ever
- Anna Hibiscus’ Song
- I Want a Party!
- Slow Sampson
It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Language comprehension (necessary for both reading and writing) starts from birth. It only develops when adults talk with children about the world around them and the books (stories and non-fiction) they read with them, and enjoy rhymes, poems and songs together.
At Hardwick Primary we follow the Read Write Inc phonics scheme to teach your children the knowledge they need to become confident readers and, eventually, confident writers. Your child will receive daily phonics sessions. More details will be shared with regularly via Class Dojo.
Please ensure that you find daily opportunities to read to your child and support them on their journey to becoming a reader.
Key Dates
- Friday 30th June: INSET Day
- Tuesday 18th July: End of Term 1pm finish
If you have any concerns, please do come, and speak to us bearing in mind that we tend to have more time at the end of the day as our priority in the morning is to settle the children and begin our learning. Thank you for your continued support – we are looking forward to another exciting term ahead.
Mrs Holt and the Nursery Team
Talking with your child:
Research shows speaking, listening, and understanding are central to every aspect of our lives. A child’s later educational success stems from their ability to express their needs, learn how the world works and communicate with others. These websites show short simple videos, such as when to introduce new vocabulary or how to have engaging back and forth conversation with your child.
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people
- Learning to talk | 3 to 5 years | Start for Life (www.nhs.uk)
- Talking with your child document (see document link below)
Improving oral health
Start good oral health habits from the earliest age with your child to prevent tooth decay. Sadly, it is still a serious problem among young children, with tooth extraction being one of the most common procedures for children under 6 in hospital. Watch this video to learn more about ways to start and support your child’s oral health.
Phonics and early reading
Reading is a vital life skill, children who have stories and rhymes read to them regularly, will have the opportunity to open the doors to so many different worlds. More importantly, reading will give your child the tools to become independent lifelong learners. We can achieve this together through the Read Write Inc program to help your child learn to read fluently.
Encouraging children to develop a love of books by reading to them daily and by giving them access to a wide range of books at home, at school, local library and through online resources such as
- https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/shows/bedtime-stories
- how to say the RWI sounds video:
Additional guidance for parents.
A parent’s guide as to what to expect in the early years along with a locally developed app, 50 things to do before you’re 5, in Oxfordshire!
- What to expect in the EY document (see below)
- Health Visitor Support
- https://oxfordshire.50thingstodo.org/app/os#!/welcome
Documents
Page Downloads |
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Talking with your children |
What to expect in the EYFS |