Curriculum and Learning
Learning is not left to chance at Colley Lane. Our challenging curriculum is at the heart of everything we do and clearly sets the knowledge and skills that will be learned. Our curriculum is unique to our cohort and is sequenced so that every child has regular and repeated opportunities to discover, explore, investigate, develop knowledge and apply taught skills both inside and outside the classroom. Our curriculum is intended to broaden children’s interests, expand their knowledge of the wider world and provide children with new memories, skills and vocabulary for now and the future.
Communication and language is at the heart of our curriculum. Progression of language is evident across Nursery and Reception, adventurous vocabulary is planned for and used regularly and all children are Wellcomm screened in Early Years so that targeted intervention can occur from Nursery upwards. We develop children’s communication skills through reading high quality texts, using the commenting approach in play, questioning, encouraging, recalling and teaching key and adventurous vocabulary throughout the school day to all children.
Strong, purposeful routines are established in the Autumn term to ensure children are comfortable and confident to apply taught learning both in lessons and during play. Repeated practice of foundational skills, including handwriting, early reading and maths, occur daily and allow children at Colley Lane to develop their foundational knowledge.
The children in our nursery follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, which is based around seven areas of learning and development. These are broken down into three prime areas and four specific areas, as outlined below.
Three Prime Areas
Personal Social and Emotional Development
This is where children learn about relationships, develop self-confidence and awareness of themselves. They learn how to manage their feelings and learn to adapt their behaviour to various situations. Self-care is also another strand where children learn how to look after their bodies and how to self-manage their hygiene and toileting needs.
Physical Development
In this area of learning, children learn about how to move their bodies in various ways. They also develop how to use their fine motor skills, which will in time enable them to hold writing tools.
Communication and Language
Here children develop the skills they need to listen to each other, to maintain and develop their attention skills. In addition, children develop the skills to speak and communicate and use this in their everyday life. Understanding language, sentences and instructions are also a part of this area of learning.
Four Specific Areas
Literacy
The skills required for reading and writing are included here. This consists of developing rhyme and a love of the written word. Children share stories, rhymes and poems. They re-tell and perform these to others. Writing skills are developed through giving meaning to marks as they draw, write and paint. Additionally, they are introduced to phonics using the Read Write Inc phonics programme.
Mathematics
In this area, children look at numbers and gain an understanding and awareness of number and what that looks like in the real world. They begin the foundations of mathematical application, such as addition and subtraction. Children also investigate shape, space and measure in a variety of ways.
Understanding the World
Here children are encouraged to look at the world around them. This begins with close family members, their friends, their community, and the bigger world. Next, we look at different people's lives which include religion, customs, and job roles. Pupils will also be encouraged to observe the natural world occurring and evolving around them.
Expressive Arts and Design
In this area of learning, children explore sounds and build repertoires of songs. Children can manipulate materials and explore what happens when they mix various types of media. Roleplay is also developed here by bringing storylines and narratives into their play.