What is our Curriculum?
At West Exe Nursery, our curriculum begins with the child. We recognise that every child is unique, and the starting point for learning is understanding each child's individual needs, interests, strengths and characteristics. Through careful observation and close partnerships with parents and carers, our educators build a deep understanding of every child, ensuring that learning experiences are meaningful, engaging and responsive.
Our vision is for every child to “find their inner gold”. We believe that every child has unique talents, qualities and potential. Through nurturing relationships, rich experiences and high-quality learning opportunities, we encourage children to develop confidence, resilience, curiosity and a strong sense of self.
In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), children learn through play. We support children's development in the Specific Areas of Learning by building on the strong foundations established within the Prime Areas. Birth to Five Matters highlights that these areas "include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society."
The Specific Areas of Learning are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Through these areas, children develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes that help them make sense of the world around them, communicate effectively, think mathematically and express themselves creatively.
At West Exe, we provide rich, meaningful experiences that are inspired by children's curiosity, interests and fascinations. Our carefully designed environments and invitations to learn encourage exploration, problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking. We make use of authentic resources, storytelling, real-life experiences and strong connections to the natural world to bring learning to life.
We understand that learning does not happen in isolation. Rather than teaching subjects separately, we weave the Specific Areas into children's everyday play and experiences. This integrated approach enables children to make connections in their learning, deepen their understanding and develop confidence as capable, independent learners with a lifelong love of learning.
Our Seven Key Experiences and Goals
As part of our commitment to helping every child find their inner gold, we ensure all children have opportunities to:
⭐ Develop a positive sense of self
⭐ Pick food from the vegetable patch and cook on a fire
⭐ Experience awe and wonder through all weathers and seasons
⭐ Care for our animals and local wildlife and the natural world
⭐ Hear and immerse themselves in incredible stories
⭐ Visit a STEM laboratory and explore the world of science, technology, engineering and mathematics
⭐ Walk under a rainbow and experience moments of joy, wonder and possibility
These memorable experiences create lasting foundations for learning, helping children develop curiosity, confidence, resilience and a deep connection to the world around them.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Please see our Thrive Video filmed here at West Exe Nursery School.
https://player.vimeo.com/video/747700659?badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479
We are teaching children how to express their emotions and to develop empathy for others. All emotions are acceptable, not all behaviours. We use Thrive and our "Golden Rules" to help children understand themselves and how to be with others.
At West Exe nursery we value the importance of children’s social and emotional wellbeing. To support this, we use the Thrive approach.
Thrive is a specific programme which enables children to engage with life and learning by helping them to become more self-assured, capable and adaptable. Thrive strategies help to build resilience and confidence and foster positive relationships through play and creative activities.
Fun activities including messy play, 1:1 shared experiences, turn taking games and language development around feelings and emotions are embedded into the curriculum for all children at West Exe.
The Thrive approach draws on the latest research into brain development and attachment and helps us to understand how individual children learn. More information can be found by clicking the button below:
Communication & Language
Here at West Exe Nursery School we understand that young children depend on back-and-forth interactions with responsive others to develop confidence as effective communicators and language users. We provide many opportunities for talk and build on shared attention and listening skills. We provide a language rich environment. We celebrate our diversity and families who speak more than one language.
At West Exe we aim to work together to meet the full range of needs of all children and their families, ensuring they all feel valued in our community. We work together with the English as an additional language service.
Our key texts (please click on the link above) are stories that your children will hear when at West Exe Nursery School. We will let you know which ones we are reading via Tapestry. We sometimes plan additional activities connected with them it will depend on our observations of children at play and what next steps are needed. Please ask us if you have any questions. If you know any fantastic stories we haven’t included we would love to know which books they are. Plus if you have time to volunteer and read stories in English or another language please let your keyworker know.
Physical Development
‘Intricately interwoven with emotional, social, cognitive and language development, physical development underpins all other areas of a child’s learning and development. Extensive physical experience in early childhood puts in place the neurological, sensory and motor foundations necessary for feeling good in your body and comfortable in the world.’
Birth to five matters
Here at West Exe we are able to offer wonderful opportunities to support physical development small and large scale inside and outside in our stunning environments. This has become increasingly more valuable as we have observed more childhoods that have become more sedentary.
We highly value the benefit from outside play see outside play section.