Building blocks for learning
Our teaching and learning
A specialist Early Years qualified teacher leads the Nursery & Pre-School. She uses her expertise to help the girls begin their exciting learning journey in the very best way. Igniting their creative sparks, making learning fun and engaging girls in specialist activities to improve their skills, our Nursery girls grow in confidence and ability every single day.
Our rich EYFS curriculum
Nursery and Pre School
As your daughter begins her journey at NGHS she will start in our Nursery & Pre-School. This nurturing and fun-filled environment will support your daughter as she builds vital skills such as independence, social skills and interactions with both children and staff. She will be based in a positive and happy classroom and will learn mainly through the many play-based opportunities but will have dedicated adult input too.
Your daughter will take part in daily Maths and Phonics sessions that happen in quick bursts to keep focus and are followed up within play. She will learn counting, numeral recognition, pattern and shape, and enjoy Phase 1 phonics which centres around the seven aspects of early phonics. These include alliteration, environmental sounds and rhythm and rhyme. These aspects build a love for early reading and ensure children are ready for more formal phonics learning later in the year. Nursery children will enjoy all the key elements of the EYFS curriculum and will take part in messy play, construction, role play as well as exploring water and sand play.
Read more about our approach to literacy here
The year before your daughter joins Reception, she will access the Pre-School curriculum. Though still mainly play-based as above, this does have a more academic structure. Your daughter will build on her mathematical knowledge and she will begin Phase 2 phonics which will teach her letters and sounds, the basis for early reading. Your daughter will learn to write her name and will take part in more structured learning, whilst still in that same nurturing and supportive environment. Her maths journey will be extended and will now incorporate themes such as measurement, more complex pattern and number skills and 3D shape. Each girl leaves Pre-School Reception ready with the skills and confidence for their next steps.
We have an excellent approach to family partnership and our Nursery and Pre-School is proud to promote an open-door policy with many exciting events taking place throughout the year including our Christmas Nativity, winter crafts, stay and play reading events, to name but a few.
All girls will take part in a daily walk to ensure they are ready for learning. This will take place during the school day and ensures that your daughter is exposed to nature and fresh air and will form a solid foundation for learning for the day ahead.
The seven areas
Our rich Early Years curriculum is made up of seven important areas, including the three prime areas of Communication and Language; Physical and Personal, Social and Emotional development. These act as the building blocks to learning, ensuring that girls gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to succeed throughout their school life and beyond. Specialist teachers also lead extra activities in Music, Sport, Languages, Food Technology and Forest School on a weekly basis. These activities nurture a sense of adventure, creativity and curiosity, as well as being a huge amount of fun!
Communication and Language
Girls are offered a language rich environment to develop their confidence in expressing themselves. We encourage a love of books, role play and songs, which all enable language, vocabulary and speaking to take-off!
Physical Development
Girls develop their fine and gross motor skills, co-ordination, balance and movement. Both indoor and outdoor learning environments are used to develop this prime area of learning.
Personal, Social and Emotional
We encourage and support girls as they nurture friendships, build social skills and develop emotional literacy so that they can express themselves and manage their emotions.
Literacy
Books, stories and poems underpin girls’ learning in this area, igniting their interests in a range of subjects. Our excellent lending library ensures that the love of books also extends to the home.
Understanding the World
Being able to explore the world, including our local area, forms an exciting part of our Nursery & Pre-School. Girls find out about the world and environment we live in, the places and people that live here and the technology available.
Mathematics
Stimulating activities are delivered to develop knowledge of numbers, counting, shapes and patterns. The Independent Schools Inspectorate described our Nursery pupils are showing “clear development of their knowledge of numbers, counting, shapes and patterns, as a result of enjoyable and stimulating activities set by their teachers.”
Expressive Arts and Design
Arts, crafts, music and role play are included in abundance to help girls express themselves, use their imaginations and develop a range of skills while they have lots of fun.
Plan your tailored visit
We would be delighted to welcome you for a tour or a meeting with the Head of Nursery, Infant and Junior School, Laura Fowler, if you would like to find out more. Please contact Lesley Sail on 0119 935 4450.
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