Nursery

school readiness information booklet for parents.pdf

Planning Overviews

curriculum overview nursery autumn 1.pdf

 

curriculum overview nursery spring 1.pdf

 

 

 

Project Learning in the EYFS 

What is project work?

At Woodlands we take inspiration from colleagues working in pre-school settings in Reggio Emilia in Italy. We aim to bring this inspiration to our curriculum and everyday practice. The city of Reggio Emilia is recognised worldwide for its innovative approach to education which many pre-school programmes around the world have tried to emulate.

Our daily project work provides a rich context for children working within mixed learning groups to communicate and share what they discover and know. Working in this way allows children to work collaboratively and develop the idea that together, they can achieve more than if we work on our own.

We have a range of project work areas the children can access everyday…

Snake Garden

The children learning in Snake Garden have been investigating ‘What is in Snake Garden? They have used natural resources to develop role play together.

 Children have welcomed chickens in to their ‘chicken coop’ and have spent time getting to know them and taking care of them. Educators have been learning about the life cycles of animals and plants.

Creatures have been further investigated as the children wonder ‘What’s underneath?’ the soil or the logs.

Outside

Children are being supported in the outside area to share their ideas and listen to others as they develop their collaborative learning skills.

A wider range of resources have been introduced to the outside area as the weather has improved this term (paints, chalks, plants, gardening, water, seeds, quiet story areas). The children, through collaborative reflection, have expressed interest in developing planting spaces and areas to attract small creatures such as butterflies. The educators and the children have been working together to develop and improve the ‘garden’. 

Alongside this learning children are enjoying building and much of this learning has supported children’s geographical land scientific knowledge. Recently the children have been asked by the educators ‘I wonder what you know about holidays’.

Children have reflected on their own experiences of holidays and begun to develop their shared ideas as they build caravans, trains, aeroplanes, holiday houses etc.

“I want to go on holiday in a submarine and visit the Eiffel Tower!”

“We are going on holiday in a caravan…we need lots of toys in the back of our caravan!”

Piazza

The children have been incorporating their ideas and experiences of the animals in EYFS into their story telling and writing. The educators have supported this through the use of the text ‘Chicken Licken’ and then asked the children the question.. ‘What happens next?’

“They went to Taco Bell for dinner!”

“The chicken goes in the castle and he gets a sword and then the chicken is the queen!”  

Children have developed their ideas using drawing, writing, role play and discussion. They plan to write story endings in booklet/story form next.

Café

To develop the children’s knowledge about the United Kingdom the children have been learning about the country ‘Wales’. Children brought lots of experiences about Wales to their own and the groups learning through family trips and holidays.

“I went to Barmouth beach and had fish and chips and hot donuts. They speak English but it is a different country.”

The educators uses videos, google maps and texts to support children’s ideas and thinking. They investigate castles and the history relating to the castles using a range of resources (paint, pen, clay, and blocks).   

“The castle has got turrets the knights used to hide behind them.”

Welsh farms are then investigated and Welsh Rarebit is made….

“The cheese is in Wales and then it comes to the shops in England.”

Block Area

Recently in block area the children have been investigating ‘transport’.

The educator and the children have worked together to develop their knowledge and understanding about steam trains and how they work.

They made a trip together to the library for information books about transport, this has helped inform the children’s designs and writing.

The children have been working both individually and collaboratively to develop their ideas and build their designs.

We do hope that you enjoy reading about the project your child is involved in. Please take some time to look at the Project Journals within the unit.

Mathematics in Nursery 

Short, medium and long term planning for mathematics in Nursery is based on the new EYFS curriculum guidance, Development Matters and to fit with the intent of the curriculum for our school. It is also underpinned by guidance from NCETM, NRICH and White Rose Maths. There are many opportunities for the children to apply and develop their numeracy skills throughout the sessions. Many of these give the children the opportunity to solve number problems in everyday situations. Children also develop knowledge and understanding of instructional language to support this learning.

1. During snack time children are supported to experience a weekly mathematics focus which is rotated on a half termly basis. This is to ensure children experience full coverage as part of a spiral curriculum. Educators offer a range of learning activities to cover each curriculum area. They cover;

• Cardinality and counting
• Comparison
• Composition
• Measure
• Pattern
• Shape

1. During the daily register time children collaborate to count each other and this gives opportunity for children to discuss and develop their ideas related to numbers and the relationships between them. Children represent number in many different ways and this gives the opportunity for the teacher to support learning relating to counting, cardinality and number composition.
2. Singing Assemblies – It is vitally important that children experience nursery rhymes regularly, particularly rhymes related to number. This reinforces children’s knowledge of number, changes to number and the patterns and relationships between and within numbers.

There are extensive opportunities for children to embed and develop their mathematics knowledge further during project learning sessions.

As always we welcome every opportunity to share children’s learning within school with parents and carers at home and also learning at home with the educators in the setting. We regularly send home children’s ‘Learning Journeys’ over the weekend to keep up a shared dialogue between Nursery and home regarding children’s learning experiences and also offer offer ‘Weekend WOW’ slips for parents/carers to share home experiences with us. In order to further develop the relationship between Nursery and home we offer regular ‘Stay and Learn’ sessions where we welcome parents/carers into setting to share learning experiences with the children. One of the most recent of these sessions had a mathematics focus.

Previous National and International Project work

We Think Everywhere – Digital Landscapes of Possibility and New Creative Pedagogies

In previous academic years we have been lucky to receive funding from Erasmus+ (European Union Funding) to be part of a three-year project researching the use of digital media and the creative opportunities it offers to young children.  We have worked with a network of schools in the UK and in Sweden to share our ideas and to discuss, as critical friends, the best ways to support our children to learn.

attendance leaflet for nursery 2024.pdf

September in Nursery 

September 2026 – Nursery

Nursery has enjoyed a fantastic start to the new school year. It has been a pleasure to welcome back children who previously attended Nursery, alongside those who have joined the setting for the first time this term. Over the past few weeks, the children have been busy building new friendships, developing positive relationships with the adults in the setting, and becoming familiar with their learning environments. They have settled beautifully into Nursery life and have adapted well to the routines of the day.

As part of their introduction to school life, the children have been learning about the school's rules: Ready, Respectful and Safe. These expectations help to guide behaviour and contribute to the calm, positive and purposeful atmosphere within Nursery. The children have also begun exploring the school's DREAM values: Determination, Resilience, Equity, Aspiration and Relationships. These important values are becoming an integral part of daily Nursery life, helping to foster a strong sense of belonging, cooperation and shared learning.

The learning focus during the first few weeks of term has centred on supporting the children to develop their social and communication skills, while nurturing positive relationships with both their peers and adults. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they engage in conversations, explore new experiences, and begin to form meaningful connections within the Nursery community.

Forest School

As part of Nursery life, the children spend two days each week learning outdoors through Forest School. These sessions provide valuable opportunities for active, hands-on learning while helping children to develop their knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of the natural world around them.

This month, the children have enjoyed exploring a variety of outdoor spaces across the school grounds. They have collected natural materials such as pinecones, sticks, and leaves to bring back to the classroom for further investigation and discussion. The children have also been using a range of mark-making tools to record their ideas, observations, and discoveries, encouraging them to reflect on and extend their learning experiences.

Project Learning

As part of Project Learning, the children have engaged in a wide range of activities designed to inspire curiosity, creativity, and communication.

In the Workshop Area, the children have been developing their artistic skills and self-expression through the exploration of different media, including clay, watercolours, and pastels. They have shown great enthusiasm as they experiment with materials, techniques, and creative ideas.

During Outdoor Learning, the children have worked collaboratively to develop their design, construction, and evaluation skills. Drawing on their understanding of familiar buildings within their community, they have planned, built, and reflected upon their creations, demonstrating impressive teamwork and problem-solving skills.

Meanwhile, in Snake Garden, the children have been making thoughtful observations of the natural world. They have shown great interest in investigating the bugs, insects, and wildlife that can be found within the school garden, developing their curiosity and understanding of living things and their habitats.

 

The children in Nursery have made an exceptionally positive start to the new term, and their growing confidence, independence, and enthusiasm for learning have been wonderful to see. The Nursery team is incredibly proud of all that the children have achieved so far.

The team would also like to extend their sincere thanks to parents and carers for their ongoing support and partnership. The strong collaboration between home and school plays an invaluable role in supporting each child's learning and development, and it is greatly appreciated.

 

 

October in Nursery 

We have had a super month in Nursery!

Forest School –
During walks to around the grounds of the school and in Forest School the children have been taking a closer interest in the natural world around them.

The children who attend Nursery in the morning have observed some spiky growth type things on some leaves on selected trees outside.
They wondered what they might be......
'ladybugs' 'caterpillars' 'butterflies'

One of the children suggested to look at photos to find out what they could be......after research together.........we found out they are called 'Spindle Galls' - which are a home that microscopic mites live in!
Much excitement and interest has developed as some of the children have investigated and then revisited the 'Spindle Galls'. They have begun to change! The children have noticed some holes developing on the leaves and the leaves have begun to change colour and fall on the floor. The children are wondering where the mites will live if they have not got their Spindle Gall homes on the leaves........

The children who attend afternoon Nursery have wondered what may live in the holes of a large tree....monsters, spiders, ladybugs? They have collected 'gifts' (sticks, feathers, stones) to leave in the holes for the creatures who may live there.

On revisiting the tree the children have discovered some of the gifts they left for the creatures who live there have gone! A collective narrative about the creatures who live deep, deep down in holes is evolving amongst the children.
The autumnal changes in nature have also been explored and reflected upon as the children explore and notice the closer details of the natural environment around them.

In other learning the children have been strengthening their muscles in a range of physical learning opportunities such as throwing and catching and riding bikes and scooters. Children also regularly run and walk around the school track and up and down steps as they develop their core strength and resilience.

 

Mathematics –

Within our maths learning this month, learning has centred around building a strong foundation in early number understanding through practical activities and developing number sense through our project learning time.

Children have the opportunity to deepen their early number sense through focused daily maths sessions linked to practical experiences in snack time. Children have been learning about ‘quantities’ up to three and are developing their ability to match quantities to numerals.

 

Project Learning

Throughout October children have been immersed in a rich variety of enquiry-based learning experiences across different areas of the learning environment, encouraging creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

🏰 Block Area – Exploring Castles and Patterns

Children have been investigating the architectural features of castles, focusing on repeating patterns and shapes found in brickwork and flooring. Using a range of construction materials and shape resources, they created their own representations, developing spatial awareness and early design skills.

📚 Role Play & Book Corner – Storytelling and Imaginative Play

Through story exploration, children have been developing their understanding of narrative structure by creating their own story ideas and sequences. These ideas have been brought to life in the role play area, where children have transformed into characters, using imaginative play to extend their storytelling.

🌊 Workshop – Under the Sea

In the workshop area, children have been investigating marine life, including seahorses, sharks, jellyfish, and more. Using a variety of materials and techniques, they represented their ideas creatively, building knowledge of the natural world and expressing their understanding through art and design.

🚗 Outdoor Building – Transport and Movement

Outside, the children explored vehicles and ways we travel from one place to another. They used construction resources and mark making to represent different modes of transport, sharing their ideas with educators and peers.

🐛 Snake Garden – Investigating the Natural World

In the Snake Garden, children have been making close observations of the natural environment, identifying plants and insects, and making connections between the bugs they find. These experiences have supported their scientific thinking and deepened their appreciation for the world around them.

Across all areas, children have been encouraged to express their thinking through a variety of mediums. It’s been a joy to see their curiosity flourish as they explore, create, and learn together.

October has been full of celebrations!

We have been learning about the celebration of Diwali in Nursery. The children have been creating Diya lights, rangoli patterns and dancing and wearing traditional clothes.

We were also thrilled to welcome so many parents and carers to our Autumn Stay and Learn sessions. All the children were fabulous, and we hope you and your children enjoyed sharing the activities with each other, their parents and carers and the EYFS staff. We were extremely proud of all the children in Nursery.

November in Nursery 

Another busy month in Nursery! 

 

Literacy –

The children have been further developing their knowledge of stories this month as they have focussed on the books ‘Our House’ by Michael Rosen, ‘Stickman’ by Julia Donaldson ‘One Snowy Night’ by Nick Butterworth and ‘Oi Frog’ by Kes Grey. Children have developed their listening and attention skills, recall of stories, recognition of rhyme, prediction skills and ability to retell parts of familiar stories. The children have represented their ideas through a range of opportunities and media including mark making, role play, movement and music.

 

Mathematics –

This month, the children have been busy developing their early maths skills through lots of practical activities. We’ve been continuing to explore counting and what it really means to find out “how many” objects there are altogether. The children have been practising careful counting — saying one number for each object (1:1 correspondence) — which is helping them to become more accurate and confident when working with numbers. Alongside this, they are beginning to use the language of ‘one’ and ‘lots’ and ‘more’ and ‘less’ when comparing groups, which supports their growing understanding of quantities.

In our shape, space and measure learning, the children are learning to recognise and name some 2D shapes, focusing especially on circles and triangles. The children have been on ‘shape hunts’ as they notice shapes and patterns in their inside and outside environments.

 

Mathematics Stay and Learn,

Thank you to those parents and carers who were able to attend the Maths Stay and Learn sessions this month. It was wonderful to see so many of you join us.
We hope this has given you insight into how we teach early maths too the children at Woodlands. We hope having had this experience you feel more confident to support your child's early maths understanding at home too.
Don't forget if you want to have any further conversations or share any of you children's ideas or thinking we are always here for a chat.

Thank you for your continued and invaluable support! 💕💕

 

Nursery Project -

In our Nursery project learning time, the children who attend nursery in the morning have been revisiting the ‘spindle galls’ in Forest School. They were surprised to find all the leaves with the Spindle Galls had fallen from the tree. They began to develop ideas about what may have happened to them.

The children who attend nursery in the afternoon found they gifts had gone from the holes in the tree. They wonder… are they developing relationships with the creatures or monsters who live there? How do they feel?

The children have noticed changes in the outside environment recently as part of our Forest School learning! The children have been noticing ice and frost in many areas. There have been many discussions and ideas about what this ‘white stuff’ may be and what made it happen. The children have developed their knowledge of seasons and the impact of the weather on familiar environments. The children have noticed and discussed the shapes, patterns and features they noticed on different frosty surfaces.

We are again, proud of the children as they have formed a more cohesive group, who are noticing each other’s learning and ideas as they become more able to collaborate in their learning.

December in Nursery 

What a jam-packed month of learning and celebrations in Nursery!

Forest School -

The children have continued to notice and respond to, the changing environment as part of their Forest School learning. They have begun to discuss and share their ideas about the changing seasons and weather and their impact on the familiar natural environment they are exploring. The children have noticed and discussed the impact of the weather on their own bodies too. Children have shown concern and care for familiar features of their natural environment as they have discussed the impact of the changing seasons.

Nativity -

For much of December the children in Nursery and Reception have worked together to rehearse and then perform ‘The Wriggly Nativity’ for the rest of the children and staff in school and their families. The children have developed in confidence as they have practised and then performed in the large theatre. We are proud of the determination and resilience the children have displayed as they have worked together in their fantastic performances. Well done!!

After a very eventful few weeks building up to the Nativity performances, the children have also enjoyed taking part in a range of Christmas events and activities this month. We had a Pantomime company visit and perform in school, Christmas Dinner for the children who stay all day and Christmas parties! The children also made a range of festive items to gift to and share with their families at home.

We look forward to welcoming the children back in the New Year.

 

 

April in Nursery 

What a busy and fantastic start to the Summer term! It has been a pleasure welcoming new children into the setting, and all children have shown growing confidence as they build new connections with one another and with the adults in Nursery. The children have settled beautifully into their routines this month, adapting well and showing a real sense of belonging as they embrace the rhythm of Nursery life. 

Literacy 

This month, the Nursery children have been immersed in rich literacy experiences that have deepened their understanding and enjoyment of stories. Through shared reading of ‘Whatever Next!’ by Jill Murphy, ‘Monkey Puzzle’ by Julia Donaldson, ‘Ten Fat Sausages’ by Michelle Robinson and ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen, the children have strengthened their listening and attention skills, developed their ability to recall key events, and begun to recognise rhyme and make simple predictions. They have also shown growing confidence in joining in with repeated phrases and retelling familiar stories in their own words. The children have expressed their ideas in a variety of creative ways, including mark making and role play. 

Daily song time has been a highlight, with the children joining in with singing, performing and movement. This month’s focus songs have been ‘Kookaburra’, ‘Alice the Camel’ and ‘Ten Fat Sausages’. 

Mathematics 

The children have been developing their early number skills through practical activities. They have continued to explore counting, learning what it really means to find out “how many” objects are in a group. By practising careful, one‑to‑one counting—saying one number for each object they touch—they are becoming increasingly accurate and confident when working with numbers. The children have been developing their confidence to use mathematical language such as “one”, “lots”, “more” and “less” when comparing groups of objects, helping them build a secure understanding of quantity. 

In their shape, space and measure learning, the children have been learning to recognise and name some 2D shapes, focusing on circles, triangles and squares. They have enjoyed becoming “shape detectives”, spotting shapes and patterns in their environment and talking about the properties that make each shape unique. 

Forest School  

During their Forest School sessions each Monday and Tuesday, the Nursery children have been busy exploring the natural world. They have been observing how the trees around school are changing with the seasons, noticing the subtle but exciting signs that Spring has arrived. From spotting bright yellow daffodils to finding tiny buds appearing on branches, the children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm for the world around them. 

As they explored the outdoor environment, the children also discovered insects beginning to reappear after the winter months. These moments of close observation have helped them develop their awareness of seasonal change and encouraged them to talk about what they can see, hear and feel in nature. Their growing confidence in noticing and describing these changes reflects their developing understanding of the natural world and their place within it. 

Home Farm trip 

On Wednesday 29th April, the Nursery children enjoyed a wonderful trip to Home Farm alongside their grown‑ups. The visit gave them the chance to get up close to a range of farm animals, and they were especially excited to feed the lambs, goats and sheep. A real highlight of the day was seeing a newborn Highland calf that had arrived earlier that very morning, sparking lots of curiosity and conversation. The experience linked beautifully to their learning in Nursery, where they have been exploring farm animals and their young, helping to bring their classroom learning to life in the most memorable way. 

Overall, it has been a month full of curiosity, creativity and growing confidence across all areas of learning.  

May in Nursery 

May 2026 Website Update

Nursery has enjoyed a lovely and lively month, with the children exploring new ideas, stories and outdoor adventures. The children have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, making great progress across all areas of their development.

Literacy

The children have enjoyed sharing two much‑loved books: The Tiger Who Came to Tea by Judith Kerr and Stuck by Oliver Jeffers. These stories have sparked lively discussions, predictions and plenty of giggles as the children explored characters, events and illustrations.

The children have learned and performed the poem ‘Sand’ from ‘Out and About: A First Book of Poems’ by Shirley Hughes. They delighted in the rhythm and imagery, using actions to support them to join in as their confidence grew.

Familiar songs have continued to support early language development, including Incy Wincy Spider, Ten in the Bed and Five Little Men in a Flying Saucer. These songs help children develop memory, sequencing and early number awareness while having fun together.

Maths

This month’s maths focus has been on 2D shapes. The children have been naming and identifying circles, triangles, squares and rectangles, as well as exploring their properties through hands‑on play. They have enjoyed spotting shapes in the environment, building with them, and describing what they notice.

  

Counting opportunities have been woven naturally throughout the day — from counting the number of children in Nursery each day to tallying how many cartons of milk are needed at snack time. These real‑life moments help children develop secure early number skills in meaningful contexts.

Forest School

Forest School sessions have been filled with awe and discovery. The children have enjoyed revisiting ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ by Michael Rosen during their outdoor adventures. They have enthusiastically recreated the story’s movements — “swishy swashy” through the long grass and “stumble trip, stumble trip” through the wooded areas — bringing the story to life through imaginative play and shared storytelling.

 

Inspired by ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle, the children have been learning about the lifecycle of a butterfly. They have been fascinated by how a tiny caterpillar munches and munches before curling up safely inside a chrysalis. Their conversations have been wonderfully thoughtful, especially when linking their new knowledge to the world around them — spotting tiny holes in leaves where a hungry caterpillar may have been and remembering the curled‑up caterpillar discovered on the underside of a leaf a couple of weeks ago.

 June in Nursery 

A warm and busy June has provided Nursery with a wonderful range of learning experiences, both indoors and outdoors, with the children showing growing independence, curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the month. 

Literacy 

Throughout June, the children explored a selection of high‑quality texts, including Jack and the Beanstalk, The Colour Monster Goes to School, Super Duper You, and How to Catch a Star. These stories supported rich discussions, imaginative play and early comprehension skills. 

In addition, the children learned simple Makaton signs to accompany familiar nursery rhymes. They particularly enjoyed signing along to Old MacDonald Had a Farm, Hey Diddle Diddle, and The Sun Has Got His Hat On. 

Mathematics 

The focus in mathematics was on early measurement. 

Children explored the language of tall and short and organised themselves into height order. They compared their heights with one another and discussed who was taller or shorter, developing both mathematical vocabulary and collaborative skills. 

,

Using water and sand, the children investigated the concepts of full, empty, and half full whilst exploring the concept of capacity. These hands‑on activities enabled them to make predictions, test ideas and use mathematical language in meaningful contexts.

Forest School

Forest School has been a particularly joyful part of Nursery life this month, with many children showing growing independence as they prepare themselves for outdoor learning. The children have been confidently putting on their own waterproof trousers, wellies and coats, and offering thoughtful support to their friends by helping with zips, finding matching footwear and tidying the cloakroom together when returning indoors.

During June, the children have enjoyed walking around the local area. As they explored, they noticed new fruits and flowers beginning to appear on the trees, prompting curiosity, conversation and close observation of seasonal change. Their gross motor skills have been further strengthened through climbing and sliding on the Adventure Playground, before moving into the Forest School area where imaginative role play has been thriving. On one particularly warm day, the children enjoyed a lively water fight in the Forest School area.  The outdoor environment has provided rich opportunities for creativity, collaboration and physical development, and the children have embraced each experience with enthusiasm.

Sports Day

Sports Day practice brought great excitement to Nursery. The children took part in running races, egg‑and‑spoon races, beanbag throwing and sack races. All children demonstrated excellent resilience throughout Sports Day, approaching each activity with enthusiasm and demonstrated determination and a positive team spirit.