Nursery Curriculum Part 2

Please find below a summary of the Nursery Schools curriculum details. Please note that these policies are shortly due for review and will be updated accordingly. Should you have any questions then please feel free to contact us directly.

In Mallaig Nursery the emphasis is on enjoyment. The experience and process are more important than the end product. Children should feel confident to take part and know their involvement is valued.

We do this by:

Providing an art and craft experiences which allow the children to use a range of techniques and tools e.g painting, drawing, printing, collage, modelling, playdough and junk

Using role-play, puppets and circle time to encourage children to retell stories, recreate experiences and invent situations eg visit to the doctor’s, Humpty Dumpty.

Planning daily opportunities for listening to and taking part in musical activities e.g. singing, clapping, playing percussion instruments.

When appropriate, creating a music area where children have access to musical instruments and can either work with an adult or independently.

Providing opportunities for children to participate in music and movement activities, either using tapes or instruments.

Playing singing games eg Old Roger, The Farmer's in his Den.

Practising simple dances eg Hokey Cokey

It is important that staff understand and are sensitive to the fact that children sometimes need time to observe before they feel confident to take part

At Mallaig Nursery children are encouraged to become more aware of their bodies and what they can do. Children are encouraged to feel good about themselves and their abilities.

We do this by:

Providing opportunities for energetic play both outdoors and indoors. Children learn the social skills of sharing , taking turns, co-operating and negotiating as they play on the climbing frame, the bikes, with the balls.

Providing opportunities for developing skills which require co-ordination of different parts of the body e.g. running, jumping, hopping, throwing and catching, etc.

Providing opportunities for children to express their feelings by moving in different ways.

Using the outdoors to provide opportunities not available indoors eg making footprints in the snow, splashing in puddles, walking through leaves, making patterns in the sand at the beach.

Providing opportunities for children to develop their fine motor skills through handling a wide range of tools and materials e.g. pencils, pens, crayons, paintbrushes, scissors, cutlery, small construction materials and jigsaws.

Encouraging and developing self-help skills e.g. toileting, hand washing, dressing, eating, etc.

Establishing an understanding of the need for safety rules, both when using tools and gym equipment.

Raising awareness of the importance of physical exercise as a contributing factor to being healthy.

It is important that opportunities for quiet and rest are built in to the daily routine.

These policies were drawn up for the use in the English and Gaelic Nursery classes of the following schools:

Fort William RC Primary

Acharacle Primary School

Mallaig Primary School