Uplands Nursery

Confidence Co-operation Curiosity Motivation Independence

We have 3 main priorities in mind when creating the vision for Uplands Nursery: ● The outdoor environment: The children will be able to freely access a high quality outdoor environment throughout most of the session and the toys, equipment and activities will be different to the indoor environment. ● The quality interactions between the adults and the children: Positive outcomes for children are closely associated with these social interactions in which adults encourage, challenge, and build upon children’s thinking. ● Readiness for school : Evidence shows that more children are starting school without the skills they need due to still have some of their primitive reflexes (baby reflexes) not having been inhibited. A impact can be seen on children’s balance, co- ordination, concentration and other educational areas. To support children’s physical development we will have a focus on music and movement sessions and fine motor activities to encourage hand eye co-ordination.

Doing things differently outside Why have another water tray outside when water play can be like this instead?

Sand play on a BIG scale! Using their gross motor skills

Bigger, better, messier! Messy play isn’t contained to a tray outside!

In a mud kitchen young children can engage in a huge variety of actions, including filling, pouring, emptying, transferring, mixing, stirring, whisking, frothing, scooping, ladling, handling, moulding, patting, smoothing, sharing out, serving, selecting, picking, collecting, gathering, measuring, sieving, filtering and separating amongst many others!

Some of the equipment we aim to have within the nursery garden.

Sustained shared thinking “Sustained shared thinking helps children to explore ideas and make links. Follow children’s lead in conversation, and think about things together.” EYFS (2012). Freely chosen play activities Adult modelling Open ended questioning

Potion station I wonder if.....? What could we do......? Can you find a way to......? What would happen if.....? Why do you think that happened.....? What did you notice about.....?

Readiness for school Neuromotor immaturity Primitive reflexes Postural reflexes Educational underachievement “There is a growing body of evidence to support the long held theory that control of balance, motor skills and integration of early reflexes are linked to academic achievement.” INPP. (2014). Training. [Available from: [Accessed 23 rd March 2014].

Music and movement Fine motor skills Key skills for independence

Uplands Nursery will have a fully qualified teacher and some ideas of activities have been included to show you what these sessions will involve. The groups will be small and the sessions age appropriate and based on the individual progress of each child. The activities will be short, engaging and fun for the children and will take place both inside and outside.

I’m making silly soup I'm making soup that’s silly I’ll keep it in the fridge To keep it nice and chilly Phase 2 Phase 1 Listening walk Sound discrimination Changing sounds Phonics activities

Goldilocks and the 3 bears ordering by size Race to fill the cup! Positional language The story of___ activities Maths activities