Download the Nursery Curriculum
Holistic Learning in the Nursery
At St Chris, we take pride in our play-based learning approach.
We firmly believe that learning through play is the most effective way for children to absorb knowledge, enhance their creativity, and develop crucial life skills. It's not just about academic development; it's about fostering a love of learning from a young age.
St Chris’ Learning Approach in the Nursery
Our Nursery's foundation is built upon the principles of Child Initiated Learning through free flow play, aligned with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. We understand the significance of a child's early years, and that's why we provide an open play environment where young minds can thrive through hands-on exploration and creative learning.
We offer a balanced curriculum with play-based learning for early years in the Nursery. Practitioners support and encourage children to learn through sensory experiences, using and developing imaginative play and independent play all of which enables social interactions in a comfortable and relaxed environment. The Nursery has an open classroom approach, where children have free access throughout the day to both indoor and outdoor learning areas. This open environment supports child-initiated activities, empowering children to explore and learn at their own pace.
| Exploratory Play for 3-Year-Olds |
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| Our curriculum focuses on nurturing the natural curiosity of 3-year-olds. Through exploratory play, they develop fine motor skills, interact with their peers, and start comprehending the world around them. It's a crucial foundation for their educational journey. |
| Educational Play for 4-Year-Olds |
| For 4-year-olds, our nursery offers educational play that helps them delve deeper into their interests. They begin to grasp essential concepts, enhancing their communication skills, and fostering creativity through expressive arts. |
Maintaining our Progressive Outlook on Education
St Christopher School’s independence enables us to dovetail the EYFS framework with a range of highly effective approaches to early years education. Our approach to children’s first experiences in a learning environment has adapted with the changing world around us.
The St Chris Nursery’s style of teaching and curriculum is influenced by many early years pioneers and includes the principles of Vygotsky (adult and child interactions), The McMillian sisters (outside learning and health) and Frobel (free flow play). Through this, the Nursery experience carefully balances planned play-based learning while also allowing pupils the freedom of Spontaneous learning following the child’s interest. This aids in developing not only their cognitive skills but also their social and emotional intelligence.
- Our children are encouraged to explore their interests and ideas, supporting the development of their independence and imagination, and nurturing their emotional growth. The Nursery Curriculum focuses on exploring the world, motor skills development, sensory play, enhancing emotional intelligence, and developing effective communication strategies for toddlers.
- The Nursery Curriculum focuses on exploring the world, motor skills development, sensory play, enhancing emotional intelligence, and developing effective communication strategies for each child.
- Each child’s day is filled with positive opportunities to foster creativity through expressive arts, individual freedom of choice to play outside or inside, and activities to aid understanding of the surrounding world.
Curriculum Topics
Within the Nursery, we have an overarching curriculum approach which informs which skills are planned for and taught. The overarching principle gives us the freedom to develop and adapt topics based on the individual child’s interest and ideas. Pupil voice is an important part of daily life in the Nursery, children are encouraged to give input and voice their interest which help the staff to shape and personalise learning. Children have free access throughout the day to both inside and outside learning areas and learn mostly through child-initiated activities with a smaller proportion of adult-led activities. Our Nursery staff are experts in providing exploratory play for 3- and 4-year-olds, encouraging creative learning while helping our youngest learners develop resilience and emotional growth.
Integrated into the curriculum are seven key areas of learning which guide the Nursery curriculum:
- Personal, social, and emotional development
- Communication and language
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Physical development
- Expressive arts and design
- Specialist Teaching
Children in the Nursery enjoy weekly sessions led by specialist teachers including:
| Forest School |
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| Our on-site Forest School provides a wealth of immersive learning experiences for our littlest learners, fostering a deep connection with nature. Our trained Forest School teacher guides children through activities that promote teamwork, problem-solving and environmental awareness, come rain or shine! |
| French |
| St Chris’ dedicated French teachers are native speakers, ensuring an authentic language learning experience delivered through music and basic conversational skills and cultural understanding, laying the foundation for future language proficiency. |
| PE (Physical Education) |
| At St Chris, our PE teachers instil a passion for an active and healthy lifestyle with a focus on enhancing gross motor skills, coordination, and spatial awareness. Lessons encourage teamwork and sportsmanship through age-appropriate activities. |
| Music |
| We have a very passionate music team that nurture creativity, self-expression and confidence through joyful musical experiences. Children explore the magical world of sound and rhythm, developing an early appreciation for music through singing, playing instruments and movement. |
| Swimming Lessons |
| One of the early principles of St Chris was that all children – even our youngest – should develop their ability to swim for both safety and enjoyment reasons. Children enjoy weekly lessons in our on-site indoor pool, led by certified instructors. Children build water confidence and essential swimming skills in a safe and supportive environment and instil a lifelong love for physical activity through the joy of swimming. |
Planning and Observing
We use Tapestry as an online learning journal to observe and record your child’s progression during their time in the Nursery. Each child is observed individually and in an on-going way, enabling us to make informed decisions about how best to support their learning. It also helps us track them against the EYFS framework, enabling us to ensure that their developmental progression is supported.
You will be invited to two parents’ evenings a year, and you will also receive two school reports throughout the year. The Nursery staff are also available to speak to at drop off and pick up and can be contacted for an appointment at any point during the year.
