Foundation Curriculum

We have one Nursery class offering morning and afternoon sessions and two Reception classes. Children in Nursery and Reception follow the Foundation Curriculum which covers children’s development in 6 areas:

Language and Literacy
Mathematics
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Personal and Social Development
Creative Development
Physical Development

We aim to ensure that we are providing an appropriate and high quality experience for our youngest pupils. We set out to provide learning opportunities which are imaginative and offer direct teaching balanced with opportunities for children to choose activities for themselves. Research shows that early opportunities for children to learn in such an environment can have long term educational and personal benefits.

Nursery and Reception staff liaise closely together to ensure as smooth a transition as possible into the main school.

Preparing for School

To make your child’s first few days at school try to help your child to

Put on and take off a coat and manage the fastenings
Tidy up toys
Go to the toilet alone and wash their hands
Dress and undress themselves
Manage a knife and fork
Look after books

Teaching your child the names of colours, to count familiar objects, sing nursery rhymes, listen to stories, share books with you, will help your child with their early learning.

Pre-school Visits

Potential new entrants are invited to visit the school with their parents/carers to meet the headteacher and be shown around the school.

Starting School in Reception

All new Reception pupils and their parents/carers will have an opportunity to meet the class teachers prior to starting school.

Children are encouraged to explore and engage with the variety of activities provided, in a practical and purposeful way. We encourage them to become increasingly independent and to communicate and cooperate with others. Literacy and Numeracy are taught at appropriate times throughout the school day, in addition children will have regular opportunities to share and handle books, listen to stories, and learn nursery rhymes, and songs. Children will learn how to write, draw and paint with increasing control; recognise symbols, letters and sounds. They will develop mathematical language, practise counting, matching and sorting activities.

Nursery

Children would normally start nursery at the beginning of the term following their 3^rd Birthday.

There are two parttime sessions, one in the morning and the other in the afternoon. There are a total of 52 part time places available. There will be a maximum of 26 children per session.

The nursery aims are the same as for the main school. The emphasis is on ensuring that the children start to gain independence and learn through purposeful and practical play activities.

We hope that every child passing through Heartsease Primary School and Nursery will find it a happy and enthralling experience. We aim to ensure that by the time your child leaves our school they will take responsibility for themselves and those around them; be flexible in their thinking and appreciate diversity.