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Growing & Learning Together

Parents

The Learning Environment

Although the nursery may look like an informal playroom, everything has been selected and put out for a purpose.  Everything is designed to help children learn and acquire necessary skills.  For example; bead threading helps your child develop colour and shape recognition, sequencing, pattern making and hand-eye co-ordination, besides the creative pleasure the experience gives.

Each child will have the opportunity to experiment with a variety of materials, equipment and activities including paint, collage materials, sand, water, large and small construction sets, ‘small world’ toys such as railways or doll’s houses, computers and other ICT equipment, dough, games, jigsaws, pens, pencils, crayons, paper, a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books, and role play.

Children have access each day to our extensive, carefully planned outdoor environment and at certain times of day can choose to stay indoors or go outside as they wish.  Outside they have access to wheeled toys, climbing equipment, sand and water, quiet areas, as well as taking part in planting and maintaining the garden areas.  

The team carefully plan for the environment to encourage conversation and key vocabulary is planned to support the communication and language development of your child.

The children also have weekly access to The Meadow, for Forest Schools sessions, led by qualified Forest School leaders.

Parent Consultations

Whilst at Highfield, we will be working closely with your child and yourselves. In their first few weeks, the staff assess the stage of development your child is at in relation to all the areas of learning and our Curricular Goals. From this basis, we will work together to ensure your child continues to make progress. Our observations and  records are updated regularly whilst your child is at Nursery School and are shared with you through Tapestry.  You can also share your observations from home. We will ensure your child’s next school receives information concerning learning and development within the Foundation Stage.

We work with outside agencies to support children’s special needs at an early stage. If you have any concerns or wish to discuss particular needs we would be pleased to help. Contact the special educational needs co-ordinator (SENDCo) or Headteacher through the office staff. For more information, please see our Special Educational Needs and Disabilities tab.