Cranborne Primary School

                             Autumn Term 2023                            

Welcome to the Cranborne Nursery Class Webpage. This is where we will be sharing useful information and reminders, alongside, updates on the children's upcoming and previous learning experiences with us.

We know that starting school can be a stressful experience for some, which is why we are always here to help everyone settle into our routines. We also understand that you may have lots of questions during the first few weeks (and across the year), so please ask one of us if there is anything you don't understand or just need a bit more information about. 

Our Routines:

• We open our doors at 8.45am and encourage you to leave your child at the door, so they can independently put their coats and bags away before settling themselves at a busy fingers activity that will be set out.
• We go to the library on a Thursday morning - please send them in with a book bag to take their library book home.
• Our PE day is Friday morning - your child does not need a school PE kit, however you can send them in wearing trainers (velcro please) and joggers/leggings that day.
• Also a reminder that toys from home should not be sent into school.

A few other reminders:

*Please send in a named water bottle daily for your child too.

*Please make sure your child is in labelled school uniform.

*Please send your child in with a named book bag - especially on a Thursday for library.

We are here to help you all. If you need anything or have any questions - no matter how trivial they may seem to you - we are always available to talk.

Our email addresses are:

Mrs Mottram (Class Teacher): smottram@cranborne.herts.sch.uk

Mrs White (EYP): cwhite@cranborne.herts.sch.uk

Miss Jennings (TA): ljennings@cranborne.herts.sch.uk

Our Learning

Below you can find an overview of the Autumn Term learning focus. Each week we will be posting a weekly overview of what the class will be covering that week, along with a summary and photos of the children engaged in their learning from the week before.

This week (11-15/09/2023)

The children have had a fun week exploring the learning environment, and getting to know each other, and us!

We have been talking about our class rules and expectations, which are:

Kind hands,

Kind words,

Kind feet,

Look after each other and our environment, (including all our toys in nursery)

Respect each other.

The children are building lots of new friendships, and we have been talking about taking turns and sharing with each other.

We have had our first library visit (please return books on Thursday) and went into the hall for our first PE session too, where we spent some time moving around the hall in different ways. We have also been learning how to come together on the carpet, for stories and singing.

The children have had a busy week, but have coped amazingly and all been super stars!

Next week (16-20/09/2023)    

We have lots of fun and exciting learning opportunities planned for the class.

Our main focus is on celebrating our similarities and differences, we will be reading 'My Nose, Your Nose' by Melanie Walsh and talking about how we can have some things the same as our friends and some that are different. Then we will be looking at ourselves in the mirror and painting self-portraits! The children will be helping to choose and make the correct colours for their eye, hair and skin tones.

We will be continuing to look through the 'All About Me' books and posters the children made during the Summer, and getting to know each other still..

Across the week there will be maths and phonics activities, alongside stories, songs, library and PE.

The Learning Environment in Cranborne Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years at Cranborne we strive to create an environment that promotes a sense of curiosity, awe and wonder in the children.

An environment that also enables plenty of opportunities for them to self-select and demonstrate the characteristics of effective learning, and where the children can practise, consolidate and rehearse taught skills. 

We aim to provide the children with areas that are accessible to them and are organised in a way to promote independence and purposeful play.

The seven areas of learning are as follows:

Communication and Language* 

Physical Development*

Personal, Social and Emotional Development*

Literacy

Maths 

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

Expressive Arts and Design

*Prime Areas of Learning

Below you can see some pictures of the Nursery class and outside learning area, and watch a video tour of the classroom.