Curriculum
Environment
As the nurseries cater for children from birth to 6 years we realise that children need to be taught and cared for in different environments according to their ages. Taking this in to account staff and rooms are allocated accordingly. Each of the nursery premises provides a Baby Room, Toddler Room, 2 to 3 year olds Pre-school and 3 to 6 year olds Pre-school. Every room is equipped with quality furniture and equipment, creating a stimulating environment for children. Our approach is to have resources accessible to the children at all times, empowering them to make choices and facilitating child-led learning through play.
We ensure a minimum staff to child ratio of 1:3 in the Baby and Toddler Rooms, 1:4 in the 2 to 3 year olds pre-school and 1:8 in the 3 to 6 year olds Pre-school. However, we have a policy of overstaffing so the ratios are normally better than those noted above.
Early Years Foundation Stage
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage which focuses on the distinct needs of children from birth to 5 years of age. Play is an integral part of the curriculum. It recognises that through supported play children can explore, develop and use their curiosity and imagination to help them make sense of the world in a secure environment. They practice skills, build up ideas and concepts, think creatively and imaginatively and communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is divided into six developmental areas as follows:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Communication Language and Literacy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Creative Development
Through the curriculum we ensure that each child has a solid foundation before entering school. We help the child develop in all areas not just academically. We teach them to socialise with other children and adults, express their emotions clearly, develop confidence and therefore independence and experience the environment around them. The nurseries are also home to various animals such as guinea pigs and tropical fish which support the children in their learning.
Since we consider outside play an integral part of our syllabus each nursery school has its own secure enclosed garden complete with play equipment. Hard and soft play areas are provided to ensure all age groups and a range of activities are catered for.
Extra Curricular Activities
Buttons offers extra curricular activities in Drama, Sport and French. These are taught by specialist external teachers who specialise in teaching young children.
Outings
Buttons arranges outings to local parks and local library on a weekly basis. A number of trips to zoos and other such places are also arranged annually.
Parents Evening
These are held every 6 months to discuss children's progress and development. This is based around a child's 'profile' which is a continually evolving record of their progress and development whilst at nursery. It contains daily observations made by a child's keyworker, samples of a child's work and photographic evidence.