The curriculum is everything we want the children to experience and learn whilst they are in nursery.
Learning includes new words, new skills and new knowledge.
Experiences include trips out of nursery, times when we invite people in, like musicians. We also have special extra experiences in nursery like farm on wheels and caterpillars.
it is very important for children to feel safe and secure. That’s why every child has a key person who takes the lead on their care. Children become more independent when they have strong and loving relationships to fall back on. They also become better at bouncing back when they find something hard, or get upset.
Our Speech Club provides children with additional opportunities to develop their communication and language skills in a fun, supportive environment. Through games, songs, stories, and interactive activities, children are encouraged to build their vocabulary, improve their listening skills, and gain confidence in speaking and expressing their ideas. Speech Club helps support children’s overall communication development and prepares them for successful learning and social interactions
The Concept Cat scheme to support children’s language development and understanding of key concepts. Through fun, engaging activities and stories, children explore important ideas such as size, position, quantity, time, and feelings. Concept Cat helps build vocabulary, communication skills, and confidence, providing a strong foundation for future learning and early literacy.
Story Rangers is a fun, interactive storytelling activity designed to bring books to life for children. Through stories, imagination, movement, and simple activities, children are encouraged to explore language, build confidence, and develop a love of reading in a relaxed and playful environment. Sessions are inclusive and supportive, giving children the chance to listen, join in, and express their creativity while enjoying stories together.
MiniMe Mindfulness classes enable the older 3 and 4 year olds to relax their minds and check in on themselves to make sure they are ok. It helps them to feel clam, be more relaxed, clear their heads, manage their thoughts, sleep better, be healthier and be happier.
Sports4Kids sessions provide a fantastic opportunity for our children to stay physically active while having fun. Through a variety of sports and games, the children engage in exciting challenges that support all seven areas of the EYFS. These activities not only promote physical movement but also help develop key skills like teamwork, coordination, and problem-solving in a playful and dynamic way. It's a great way for them to stay engaged while learning and growing!
Rhythm Time sessions offer a wonderful blend of fun and learning, providing numerous benefits for the children. Through music and rhythm, these sessions support speech and language development, enhance learning skills, and boost confidence and self-esteem. The stimulating effects of music help to engage the brain, improving focus and memory, while the interactive nature of the sessions ensures the children have a great time. Most importantly, they are a fantastic way for the children to learn while enjoying themselves!
Makaton is used throughout the nursery routine to support children's language development and communication. Amy has completed training on Makaton and works together with the team to embed this.
At Fun Start Childcare, we partner with Stoke Speaks Out to carry out regular communication screenings for children aged 2-5 years old, once per term. These screenings help us identify children who may need extra support with their listening, attention, understanding, or speech. Based on the results, every child receives tailored next steps to support their development. For those who score lower, we offer daily Time2Talk sessions led by Amy or Tina, both trained specialists, to provide targeted support and help the children progress in their communication skills. This ensures that every child has the opportunity to thrive in their speech and language development
Early Talk Boost is a targeted programme for 3-4 year olds who need support with talking and understanding words. It aims to accelerate their language skills by an average of 5 months over 9 weeks, narrowing the gap with their peers. Selected children attend three 15-20 minute sessions per week, led by Tina and Amy, who are fully trained to deliver these sessions during circle/story time. The sessions focus on building essential speech, language, and communication skills to help children learn new words and engage in conversations.
At Fun Start Childcare, we do Number Sense daily! Amy, trained in this exciting maths programme, leads the children through fun activities that teach early maths skills without them even realising it. Each activity includes catchy stem sentences or songs that engage the children, making learning about numbers, patterns, and shapes an enjoyable experience every day.
