Nursery Curriculum
At Gatehouse Nursery, learning begins with curiosity, exploration and play. We provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where children develop confidence, independence and a love of learning.
Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), combining purposeful play, practical experiences and teacher-led activities. Every child is encouraged to learn at their own pace, discover new interests and build the skills needed for their next steps into Reception.
What Will My Child Learn?
Our Nursery curriculum covers the seven areas of learning and development outlined below, supporting children’s academic, social, emotional and physical development through a broad range of engaging experiences.
| Communication and Language | Learning to listen, express ideas, ask questions and develop vocabulary through stories, songs, conversations and play. |
| Personal, Social and Emotional Development | Building friendships, understanding feelings, developing confidence, becoming independent and learning to work with others. |
| Physical Development | Developing coordination, balance and movement through outdoor play, games and dance, alongside fine motor skills through drawing, painting and practical activities. |
| Literacy | Developing a love of books, stories and rhymes, recognising sounds and exploring early reading, drawing and writing. |
| Mathematics | Exploring numbers, counting, shapes, patterns and measurement through games, practical activities and everyday problem-solving. |
| Understanding the World | Discovering the natural world, exploring different cultures and traditions, and learning about people, places and communities. |
| Expressive Arts and Design | Developing imagination and creativity through music, art, construction, role-play and exploring different materials. |
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Our Nursery children benefit from specialist teaching in French, Music, Drama, Games and Dance, alongside weekly library visits.
Weekly Forest School sessions provide opportunities to explore nature, develop independence, solve problems and build confidence through outdoor learning.
These experiences help children discover new interests, develop their talents and enjoy a broad and enriching introduction to school life.
How Can Parents Support Learning at Home?
Learning doesn’t stop at the Nursery door. Everyday activities provide wonderful opportunities to reinforce the skills children develop at school.
- Read together every day: Share stories, discuss pictures and encourage your child to talk about what might happen next.
- Talk and listen: Ask questions, introduce new words and encourage your child to describe their experiences and feelings.
- Explore maths together: Count everyday objects, look for shapes, compare sizes and spot patterns when shopping, cooking or playing.
- Encourage independence: Let your child practise getting dressed, putting on shoes, tidying away toys and making simple choices.
- Get creative: Enjoy drawing, painting, building, singing and imaginative play together.
- Explore outdoors: Visit parks, observe nature, collect leaves and talk about the changing seasons.
- Develop social skills: Encourage sharing, taking turns, playing with others and talking about feelings.
Most importantly, make learning enjoyable. Children develop valuable skills through everyday conversations, play and shared experiences.
Preparing for Reception
Throughout their Nursery journey, our teachers observe and support each child’s progress, celebrating achievements and identifying their next steps.
As children prepare to move into Reception, they become familiar with the wider school through classroom visits, assemblies, playground experiences and opportunities to meet older pupils and staff.
By the end of Nursery, our aim is for every child to feel happy, confident, increasingly independent and excited about the next stage of their Gatehouse journey.
