Nursery - Acorns
Miss Smith
Class Teacher
Miss Zaynam
Early Years Practitioner
Mrs Murray
Teaching Assistant
Welcome to Acorns class!
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In our nursery, we provide a calm and nurturing environment for all of our children to feel safe and valued. We understand that starting school can be a big change for children and their families – our priority is to build positive relationships with our children and their parents/carers for effective learning to take place.
Our Curriculum
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From birth to 5 children learn and develop quicker than any other time in their life. We ensure that our children have high-quality learning experiences that support them to be curious and confident learners. Our curriculum has a strong balance of play-based learning and direct teaching in a purposeful environment. We understand that children enter nursery with different starting points. Our practitioners are skilled in finding out what children already know and their interests, and build on their knowledge with sensitive interactions. This embodies our school vision of ‘Every Child, Every Voice, Every Dream’.
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We believe that the outdoors is essential for children’s learning and wellbeing, and is and extension of our classroom. We encourage children to take risks and manage them safely to aid their emotional resilience. The importance of physical activity is promoted in our setting, so that children are continually developing their gross motor skills, strength and coordination. In our nursery, we go outside everyday in all weathers, so that children can experience the natural seasonal changes around them.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
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The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) Framework is a statutory framework in England that sets the standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to age 5. There are seven areas of learning and development which shape the learning experiences we provide for our children. Our staff are very knowledgeable about these areas, and know how they form the basis of how children learn, grow, and develop during this crucial time for the best start in life.
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The seven areas are split in the prime and specific;
Prime Areas
These build the foundation for all learning:
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Communication and Language
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Supports speaking, listening, and understanding—vital for all other learning.
Physical Development
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Builds strength, coordination, and health. Includes fine and gross motor skills.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
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Supports confidence, relationships, and self-regulation—crucial for mental health and resilience.
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Specific Areas
These build on the prime areas:
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Literacy
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Reading and writing; helps children understand and use written language.
Mathematics
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Covers numbers, shapes, space, and measure—early numeracy and problem-solving skills.
Understanding the World
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Encourages curiosity about people, places, technology, and the natural world.
Expressive Arts and Design
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Supports creativity, imagination, music, movement, and expression.
What to expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage: a guide for parents
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Here is a useful document for parents/carers, aligned with the EYFS statutory framework, to help you understand how your child is learning and developing in these early years with tips for how you can help.
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Communication Friendly Settings
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In foundation, we are a ‘Communication Friendly’ accredited setting. We have a whole-setting approach to communication and language, which supports all children’s speech, language and communication development.
Research tells us that early interaction, talk and language are foundational to children’s learning, social development and ultimately academic success. We are quick to identify and support any children who may need support with any area of their communication, to provide the best outcomes for all children. We are always reviewing and auditing our practice to ensure our interactions and environments are of the highest quality.
