Curriculum

Vision Statement

Our nursery is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our children and expects all staff, volunteers, and visitors to share this commitment.

Our focus is to ensure every child is offered equal opportunities to grow within our setting as individuals.

We aim to offer a relaxed, welcoming, and language enriched environment indoors and outdoors, which supports children’s desires to explore and discover as they learn and develop.

We encourage children to make their own choices and figure things out for themselves which leads to enhanced confidence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Respect is highly valued at Urmston Day Nursery.

Respect for the children
Respect for each other
Respect for the environment
Respect for our resources

Urmston Day Nursery

Curriculum 2025

Curriculum Aims

This document sets out our curriculum aims which supports and underpins our everyday practice.

At Urmston Day Nursery our curriculum is focused and centered around the individual child. We aim to embrace the interests of the children and be responsive to their curiosity and thinking. Our indoor/outdoor approach and our environments allow children the freedom to make choices and be an advocate of their own learning.

We hold high value towards the natural environment, this reflects within the ethos of our setting and has been a key factor in the development of our curriculum. Children are given the opportunity to explore, appreciate and understand the natural world, take and manage risks and ultimately develop a love for the outdoors.

Practitioners are facilitators to children’s learning, their role is to observe, support and extend learning, offer meaningful opportunities and experiences whilst listening to the child and tuning in to their needs and interests.

Pedagogy

The curriculum and our practice at Urmston Day Nursery is inspired by a range of different pedagogical approaches.

Reggio Emilia, Montessori & Maslow.

Reggio Emilia

One of the approaches we look at is that of the world-renowned early years educational project from the city of Reggio Emilia in Northern Italy. In Reggio Emilia the image of the child is that of competent, strong, and amazing individuals who have rights and responsibilities, children are given opportunities to realise their potential.

Children are encouraged to express themselves in a variety of ways, referred to as The Hundred Languages.

“For us each child is unique and the protagonist of his or her own growth. We also note that children desire to acquire knowledge, have much capacity for curiosity and amazement, and yearn to create relationships with others and to communicate” Tiziana Filippini, Reggio Emilia.

Montessori

The remarkable approach to education was founded in 1907 by Maria Montessori, a visionary anthropologist and Doctor.

The Montessori method is based on thousands of scientific observations. It focuses on each child’s individuality, encouraging curiosity through a carefully designed environment.

Crafting a safe, ordered and nurturing environment that encourages self-directed hands-on learning.

Abraham Maslow

Maslow (1908-1970) was a US psychologist, best known for his theories surrounding human needs and motivation.

Maslow is most famous for his “hierarchy of needs” model, which proposes a series of human needs in a hierarchical order, ranging from basic physiological needs through to self-esteem and self-actualisation.

If a child’s basic needs of food, warmth, sleep love and security are not being met then they will not grow and develop.

EYFS 3.1- Children learn best when they are healthy safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.

Early Years Foundation Stage

“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. EYFS 2021″

Our curriculum is underpinned by the 7 areas of learning within the EYFS Statutory Framework. Children are provided with a range of experiences and opportunities that support all the areas within the EYFS.

Prime Areas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language

Specific Areas

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

Grow

‘Your physical potential is limitless’.

Knowledge of own body and what shapes a healthy lifestyle
Enjoy being physically active
Using a variety of tools to develop muscle growth

‘You have a voice.’

To confidently communicate needs, interests, thoughts and ideas
Being an active contributor within the room
Show an appreciation for the voice of others

‘Have a strong sense of self and well-being’

Be a kind and caring member of the community.
Be able to recognize and manage a range of emotions.
Being responsible and independent with my own self-care

Explore

‘Embrace a love of the outdoors’.

Understand growth, change and the effects on the environment.
Be able to follow and understand the nursery values.
Being able to initiate and lead their own learning with open ended resources.

‘Being an advocate for your own learning’

Taking and managing risks
Take on new challenges, new experiences and be proud of accomplishments.
Be a reflective learner.

‘Have an appreciation of your senses’.

To use our senses to widen opportunities and curiosity about the world around us.
Be open to experience a variety of textures, materials, sounds, tastes, and smells.
Understand how to use our senses to support self-regulation.

Discover

‘Develop a love of literature’.

Enjoy listening to, reading and retelling favourite stories, songs and rhymes.
Embrace and explore & discuss real life experiences
Express ourselves through a range of media

‘Experience your creative potential’

Use a variety of resources to create and explore
Engage independently on imaginative play in a range of contexts
Being independent in accessing opportunities within a range of environments

‘begin to understand you are part of a wider world’

Join in with and embrace other cultures and beliefs
Know what is important to us, our family and what makes us unique
How can I make a difference in the world