Foundations take longer to create than buildings. The higher the building the firmer the foundations have to be. The more stress a building is likely to face; the more flexible the foundations need to be.

When building on poor ground, the foundations must be strengthened to compensate. If new buildings are to be added to existing buildings, making the right connections between their foundations is crucial.   When testing foundations, early strength is not a reliable predictor of later strength.

If foundations prove inadequate, it is very, very expensive to underpin them later. Julie Fisher, Early Education number 31, summer 2000

_________________________________________________________________________ 

Toy Library

Every Tuesday morning a Toy Library is open for toddlers, and their parents. This is in the school dining room from 9.30 – 10.45a.m.   Please contact Jo-Ann, Outreach worker for further details.   Parents and children meet and work together at the activities provided. Parents also get to know the Nursery staff and school.   We welcome parents with pre-school children to join us. See you soon!

___________________________________________________________________

Aims
We aim to work in partnership with parents/ carers to ensure the well-being and education of their children.
 
In partnership with parents and the community, we aim to provide opportunities for all children to fulfil their highest academic, social and physical potential.
 
We aim to work with parents/ carers to ease the transition from home to nursery, nursery to reception and reception to year one, to enable children to grow in confidence and independence.
 
We consider it important to develop the child’s sense of worth and foster respect and empathy for others.
We encourage independence within the ordered framework of the school environment.
 
We aim to provide a safe and secure environment for children and staff.
 
We recognise the value of play and talk and first hand experiences in children’s learning.
 
We see this stage of children’s education as valuable in itself and laying the foundations for further learning.
 
All children will receive a broad and balanced curriculum which will respond to their individual needs.
 
We hope that this will enable children to leave the school with the skills, confidence and experience preparing them to make informed choices as responsible citizens later in life.
 
We aim to reflect all cultural and family groups in both the school environment and the curriculum.
   

___________________________________________________________________ 

The curriculum for the Foundation Stage covers six areas of learning:
 

Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Personal, social and emotional development is fundamental to all other areas of learning. Where children feel good about them and feel they belong within the group they will learn effectively. During the Foundation Stage children are developing dispositions and attitudes towards learning which will be long lasting.

The children are developing high self esteem and positive relationships with others. They are developing the ability to find and use resources and understand the need to care for them. The children are encouraged to make informed choices and to initiate their own learning. They are developing respect for other cultures and beliefs. They are encouraged to participate in formulating a code of behaviour and respect this.

___________________________________________________________________ 

Communication, Language and Literacy
Children are encouraged to listen attentively and talk about their experiences. They use talk to organise, sequence and clarify thinking, ideas, feelings and events. They are beginning to use a growing vocabulary to express themselves. They listen with increasing attention and recall to stories, poems, nursery rhymes and songs.
 
They are encouraged to make up their own stories, rhymes and songs. They learn about the conventions of reading and writing. The children are encouraged to recognise and write their own name. They learn about the letter names and sounds. They attempt writing for different purposes.
___________________________________________________________________

Mathematical Development
Mathematical development depends on becoming confident and competent in learning and using key skills. The children are encouraged to make sense of the world around them and solve practical problems through:
Play
Understanding and using numbers in everyday life
Learning about shape and space
Engaging in logical thought and recognising patterns
Developing an understating of quantity and measurement
Making comparisons and classifying

___________________________________________________________________ 

Knowledge & Understanding of the World
Children are developing the crucial knowledge, skills and understanding that helps them make sense of the world. This forms the foundation for after work in Science, Design and Technology, History, Geography, Religious Education and Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
They are encouraged to show curiosity, observe, explore, comment, describe, question, report and investigate. They gain an awareness of the cultures and beliefs of others. They look closely at similarities, differences, patterns and change. They use technology to support their learning.
___________________________________________________________________

Physical Development
Physical development in the Foundation Stage is about improving skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. It helps children gain confidence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active.
They are encouraged to use tools and equipment safely and with control.

___________________________________________________________________ 

Creative Development
Being creative enables children to make connections between one area of learning and another and to extend their understanding of this area of learning includes art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play.
They are encouraged to express their feelings and ideas. It is an inclusive and creative form of communication and expression.

___________________________________________________________________ 

QUILT (Quality in Learning and Teaching)
The Foundation Stage have undertaken the QUILT project. We have successfully completed two of the modules and currently working our third one.