Our Curriculum

At Balderton Village Day Nursery we understand the importance of a good educational programme which provides a range of interesting and challenging experiences. Our practitioners have a secure knowledge and understanding of how children learn through play and adult interaction. 

Our educational programme

We use useful starting points gathered from parents about care and learning when a child starts at the nursery, this then allows us to plot baseline assessments following an educational programme ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage’.

This comprises of 3 Characteristics of Effective Learning – Playing and Exploring, Active Learning and Creating and Thinking Critically. These are based around the Unique Child, Positive Relationships and Enabling Environments. These characteristics underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain effective and motivated learners.

The Seven areas of learning we use to track development are broken into two sections, the three Prime areas and the four Specific areas.  The prime areas are fundamental, work together and move through to support development in all other areas. They are:

• Personal Social and Emotional development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language

The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society. They are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive arts and Design

Activities

We have a vast range of activities that the children take part in, including a Jolly Phonics Programme, Number Puppies and other mathematical activities, water and sand play, outdoor activities including free flow outdoor play throughout the day. We also go on regular walks around the local community to the lake, park and library.

The practitioners plan each week using a monthly theme and take ideas for activities based on the children’s interests and their next steps. Adult guided experiences are also used to support children in their learning and achieving their next steps.

Regular assessments of learning taken by the child’s key person, such as, the progress check at 2 years and a prime areas tracker completed termly are used efficiently and effectively to support children’s future learning needs providing the children with any extra support they may need.

We offer a variety of afternoons where parents can come in to the nursery and speak with the child’s key person to discuss development and look at their child’s profile.

We make it essential that the educational programme is followed allowing us to get the best out of our children and helping them reach their optimum development and next steps in all areas.