An introduction to the early education goals...

The CfBT Nursery School curriculum offers your child a solid foundation on which to prepare for advanced learning at primary school, and for life ahead. Play forms the main focus for learning at CfBT nurseries where carefully structured activities help develop your child’s self-esteem, independence, creativity and social skills. Through planned activities children explore six areas of learning which follow the foundation stage of the national curriculum.

Foundation stage curriculum

Social, personal and emotional - Successful personal, social and emotional development is critical for very young children in all aspects of their lives and gives them the best opportunity for success in all areas of learning. Our nurseries provide the experiences and support to enable all children to develop a positive sense of themselves.

Communication, language and literacy - To develop strong communication, language and literacy skills children need to have the confidence, opportunity, encouragement and support to use them. At all of CfBT’s nurseries we ensure that children’s learning includes communication, speaking and listening activities within a variety of different contexts and for different purposes. Children read a wide range of books, and they learn to read simple texts as well as write in a number of different ways.

Mathematical development - At CfBT we believe mathematical development depends on becoming confident and competent in learning and using key skills. We encourage mathematical understanding through creative teaching, using stories, games and imaginative play to help children to enjoy using and experimenting with numbers. This area of learning includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships and working with numbers, shapes, space and measures.

Physical development - Children develop at different rates and in different ways. Every child will have some movement and, at CfBT nurseries, children are provided with a range of opportunities to increase physical skills and optimise their personal potential. Each nursery provides indoor and outdoor experiences so that every child has the chance to develop the full range of physical skills including whole body and fine motor skills, since these enhance self-esteem and increase personal competence.

Creative development - Creative development is fundamental to successful learning. We ensure that a wide range of creative opportunities including art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play enable children to make connections between areas of learning and extend their understanding.

Knowledge and understanding of the world - In this area of learning, children are developing the crucial knowledge, skils and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. We help ensure that their learning at nursery can form the foundation for later work in science, design and technology, history, geography and information and communication technology (ICT).