Nursery - Foundation Stage

Vision

In our Early Years Foundation Stage, we are committed to providing a rich, nurturing environment where children are:

Engaged in meaningful learning experiences that spark curiosity and deepen understanding
Supported by positive, trusting relationships with adults and peers, forming the foundation for emotional security
Happy, secure, and confident, with a strong sense of well-being and belonging
Encouraged to be independent learners, making genuine choices and taking ownership of their learning journey
Empowered to take risks, embrace new challenges, and develop resilience through exploration
Social and collaborative

Nursery Class teaching and learning

At our school, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a vital and distinctive phase where we lay the foundations for lifelong learning through a carefully balanced approach to child development and education. Our vision is to provide a high-quality, inclusive early years environment in which all children feel safe, valued, and motivated to learn.

We are committed to fostering positive and secure relationships between children and adults, recognising that emotional well-being is central to effective learning. Through our ethos of care and respect, we support children in becoming confident, independent, and resilient learners, who are willing to explore, take appropriate risks, and engage fully with the world around them.

Our approach is underpinned by the principles of 'planning in the moment', enabling practitioners to respond sensitively and effectively to children's interests and developmental needs as they arise. We believe that learning happens most powerfully in the present, during moments of curiosity, challenge, or engagement. Skilled adults observe and assess in real time and use professional judgement to interact meaningfully, seizing each teachable moment to extend learning and support progress.

We offer a developmentally appropriate curriculum that values both child-led play and adult-guided learning. Through high-quality continuous provision, enriched environments indoors and outdoors, and focused adult input, children acquire essential knowledge, skills, and attitudes that support the Early Learning Goals and prepare them for a smooth and successful transition to Key Stage 1.

We recognise the importance of both a core body of knowledge and a wide range of rich, lived experiences, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Our vision is to ensure that all children leave the EYFS as curious, capable, and confident learners, ready for the next stage of their educational journey.

Nursery at Oxford Road incorporates a morning nursery, an afternoon nursery and 30 hours provision.

Nursery Class Timetable

Our Nursery day is unique to every child, please take a look at our Nursery Timetable to understand how we maximise every child's potential to learn in their session.

What have we been learning in Nursery class?

Our carpet and group times are always focused on developing children's communication and language skills.

For many children in our setting Nursery is their first experience of being away from their main carers, they are learning to build relationships with key adults and their peers; extending their sense of safety beyond their home environment. As children experience positive interactions with adults in the setting and their peers they develop their sense of emotional safety and wellbeing. This wellbeing is essential for children to feel at ease in the setting and to become involved in their play. For more information on children's wellbeing and involvement take a look at the Leuven scale which we use to assess children's early play.

Planning in the moment allows us to deliver a highly personalised learning experience for our children, their days will all be unique to them.

Nursery Curriculum Outline - This document informs a variety of adult led times which children in Nursery class participate in.

Nursery Transition Booklet- A helpful booklet for children and families of children who are starting our Nursery

Nursery Read and share a lot texts

The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle	The Gingerbread man	Brown Bear Brown Bear What do you see? – Eric Carle
The Tiger who came to tea – Judith Kerr	Come on, Daisy! –Jane Simmons	Alfie’s feet – Shirley Hughes
Little Red Riding Hood	Oi Frog! - Kes Grey	We’re going on a Bear Hunt – Michael Rosen
Peace at Last – Jill Murphy	Farmer Duck - Martin Waddell	Monkey and Me – Emily Gravett
Whatever Next – Jill Murphy	Owl Babies – Martin Waddell

Oxford Road Community School