We are delighted to welcome you to Spring Term 1 in Nursery. This half term, children will take part in a wide range of carefully planned learning experiences that support their development in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage and the Development Matters framework. Learning will take place through play, exploration and adult-led activities, ensuring every child is supported in their individual journey.

In Communication and Language, children will begin to develop their listening skills during carpet sessions and small group activities. They will be encouraged to interact with their peers by initiating conversations and engaging in back-and-forth exchanges while following our oracy rules and expectations. Children will respond to their own name and begin to name members of their immediate family. We will also focus on supporting children to communicate how they are feeling by using the words happy, sad and angry.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development will focus on helping children to understand feelings, sharing and germs. Through stories, discussions and play-based experiences, children will learn how to recognise their own emotions, share resources with others and begin to understand how to keep themselves and those around them healthy.

In Physical Development, children will take part in P.E. sessions where they will be learning and practising ball skills, including bouncing, dribbling, throwing, rolling and kicking. Throughout the classroom, children will be encouraged to use mark-making tools and one-handed equipment to develop their fine motor skills. They will practise holding pencils using a tripod grasp and begin forming letters and numerals correctly. Children will also learn how to hold scissors safely and practise cutting with control.

In Literacy, we will be sharing a range of stories linked to our language programme. Through these texts, children will explore the feelings of characters and discuss how these emotions may relate to their own lives. Each day, children will be introduced to a special word linked to our key text to develop their vocabulary. Continuous provision in the classroom will be carefully planned around these texts so that children can independently explore and deepen their understanding, both on their own and with adult support.

Phonics sessions will follow the Floppy’s Phonics programme, with a focus on environmental sounds, rhythm and rhyme. Children will begin to recognise, say and write initial letter sounds, including s, a, t, p, i and n. They will also begin to develop an understanding of blending CVC words through daily phonics sessions. Alongside this, children will practise making marks using their fingers, paintbrushes and pencils as they continue to develop a dominant hand and secure pencil grasp.

In Mathematics, children will explore 2D shapes and begin to use positional language such as under, over and next to. They will investigate measuring length and develop their understanding of counting, comparing and ordering numbers from 0 to 5. Children will also explore patterns and spend time consolidating previously learned mathematical concepts.

Understanding the World learning will include exploring geography through positional language, history through discussions about special objects, memories, places and photographs, and science through investigations into melting, ice and snow. These experiences will encourage curiosity and help children make sense of the world around them.

In Expressive Arts and Design, children will explore art and design by using glue, creating lines and shapes and mixing colours. Music sessions will focus on exploring pitch and understanding the difference between high and low sounds, allowing children to express themselves creatively.

These are just some of the exciting experiences that will take place this half term. All of your child’s learning will be shared through our online learning journey, Evidence Me. Please check this regularly to receive frequent updates and celebrate your child’s progress with us. We look forward to a happy and successful half term in Nursery.