Welcome to our Nursery at Shakespeare Primary School

The nursery children learn in our Foundation Unit alongside our Reception children. The unit consists of four class bases, a large open-plan area and large outside area. 

At Shakespeare, we believe that children learn best through play in an environment that promotes exploration. We organise our resources to provide a wide range of areas of provision, where children can access learning across the curriculum. These areas are regularly enhanced to support learning across different themes and to follow children’s particular interests.

It is our aim to give the whole family an enjoyable start to school life when they join our school. We are committed to offering each and every child inspirational learning experiences that set them on their learning journey.

On this page you will find information about what we offer here at Shakespeare. Our Nursery Class Teacher is Mrs Debbie Maher, she is more than happy for you to contact her if you have any further questions or queries:

email: deborah.maher@spsplymouth.org

EYFS Areas of Learning

‘When we give every child the best start in their early years, we give them what they need today. We also set them up with every chance of success tomorrow.’ EYFS Framework p6 
 
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework explains how children learn as well as what they learn. It details how we need to give children opportunities to develop their own play and independent exploration and provides guidance on how children can learn skills, acquire new knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through seven areas of learning and development. 
 
There are three prime areas of learning: Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Physical Development. These areas are which are essential for children’s healthy development and future learning.  

Communication and Language

We create opportunities for our children to talk, listen and communicate in a range of situations throughout each day.  We focus on modelling how to have conversations with others, to enable children to share their ideas and develop vocabulary use so that they leave the foundation stage able communicators.  
 
‘The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development.’ EYFS Framework p21 
 
Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We feel that our children’s personal, social and emotional wellbeing is extremely important.  We want our children to be healthy and happy and support them to have confidence in themselves and have the determination to succeed. We help them to describe their own needs and feelings and to also learn how to make good friendships, developing empathy for others. We also encourage children to become independent in managing their own health and self-care.    

Physical Development 
Learning to control their bodies and be confident in their movements is an important aspect of the EYFS.  We provide our children with varied opportunities to develop gross and fine motor skills, including fostering the safe and careful use of tools, so that they can be confident, active learners.    
 
Using these prime areas, children are able to develop other skills across the curriculum. There are four specific areas of learning: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design: 

Literacy

We nurture early reading skills developing children’s ability to read words and understand what they have read. We also value reading for pleasure and encourage a love of books, stories, singing, poems and rhymes. We provide a range of stimulating and fun mark making opportunities in order to support the development of early writing skills.    

Mathematics

We develop our children’s counting skills alongside their understanding of numbers to 10 and ability to problem solve. We also provide rich opportunities to learn about shape, pattern, space and measurement through everyday experiences as well as stories, rhymes and games.     
 
Understanding of the World

Exploring and finding out about the world around them is very much a daily part of our children’s learning experiences. Our ‘Super 6 Reading Spine’ and theme learning enables children to make sense of their own lives, their community and the world beyond. The children can make and build with different materials, be introduced to technology and begin to understand their sense of time and place. At Forest School they can explore and enjoy the natural world around them. They can also begin to learn about their own and other cultures and beliefs.      

Expressive Arts and Design

We encourage our children to be able to express their feelings and tell us of their experiences in many different ways.  We provide regular opportunities for them to develop their creative skills by exploring with materials, colours, marks and a range of different textures.  They are also supported to develop their imaginative role play and story making skills and to develop a love of music through  exploration with a range of instruments, songs and music.    

How can you help as a parent or carer?  

Your contribution at home is important in supporting their learning and development. Every fun activity you do at home helps and will have a long lasting effect on your child's development. We value your input and believe in strong links between school and home.