Below is a summary of the curriculum we follow at The Little Lighthouse Nursery, with examples of how it is implemented and our session times. For more details about our curriculum, please visit our EYFS Curriculum and Montessori pages.
EYFS with a dash of Montessori
The EYFS Curriculum
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum, which encompasses seven key areas of learning. The 3 prime areas of learning include, Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social & Emotional Development. The other areas are, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
Montessori Philosophy
The Montessori approach promotes the idea that children are innately interested in learning and are naturally curious about the world around them. It encourages a hands on, independent and individualistic pace of learning following the interests of each child. There are 5 areas of learning. This includes, Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics & Culture. It is the idea that, “The education of even a very small child…does not aim at preparing him for school but for life.”
Extra Curricular Opportunities
Here at The Little Lighthouse Nursery we aim to provide each child with exciting and new opportunities. We offer French sessions in a fun and dynamic way, designed to foster a love of languages and equip children with basic French conversational skills. A fun addition to our love of languages will be the introduction of British Sign Language or (BSL) sessions, where children will learn a portion of the Level 1 syllabus. We have structured cooking sessions, where children get to learn the fundamentals of cooking and the children prepare their own snack daily. The children also have weekly violin lessons and other music sessions that involve singing and an opportunity to explore an array of percussion instruments.
Trips, Outings & Educational Visits
Outings allow for greater depth of knowledge in a given subject, enabling children to be fully immersed in the learning journey and retain the information learnt. For example, when learning about planting and growing or healthy eating, we visit our local allotments where the children can have a hands on experience of planting, growing and sustaining crops. Or we might visit our local pond during a topic on lifecycles. We also invite external professional organisations where possible to facilitate learning. This might include a visit from the local fire service or the local constabulary team. We invite parents and other professionals to come and talk about a particular job or skill that would be of interest to the children. This is usually scheduled as part of the morning session or towards the end of the day.
Art
Every child is an artist! Children are provided with a range of creative resources and tools in order to encourage their creativity. Children will also learn various techniques and be given much opportunity to master these. Children will learn about various artists and have a go at their interpretation of a piece of art.
Music
We encourage and nurture children’s natural curiosity of musical instruments. Every child at the little lighthouse nursery has access to their own violin and has violin lessons throughout the year. In addition to this, we have a music area where children can play and practice the skills learnt during our music sessions. We also play classical background music, which is said to stimulate learning and creates a calm nursery ambience.
Movement
We have an indoor apparatus set where children can practice their gross motor skills. Each morning we encourage the children to partake in the morning ‘Wake & Shake’ and children take part in a daily guided run or exercise daily. Our outdoor equipment is carefully selected to promote the development of children’s gross motor skills. Once a fortnight, the children participate in a football session with Freddie from LA Ballers designed to develop their football as well as social skills such as sharing, taking turns and teamwork.
Language
It is this age group where the brain is working the hardest with the essential neural wiring for brain development. Language is interconnected with a child’s ability to regulate their emotions, as they are equipped with language to express their needs. In cases where children are unable to express themselves effectively there is a greater chance of unfavourable behaviours, inner-frustration and lowered confidence. We create an environment that encourages talk and also talk for learning. Members of staff facilitate communication and listening skills between children, as children learn from each other. We also learn French at our nursery, which is taught in a fun and engaging way with the use of puppets, and BSL is incorporated into our circle time.
Mathematics
We are dedicated to children having a mastery of numbers and not just having the ability to count in sequence. The activities and resources available will help to achieve this coupled with the scaffolding from members of our staff. The children take part in snack preparation during which they learn and practice basic fractions with cutting fruit and quantities with pouring water. We also include children in cooking activities where they further consolidate their maths mastery through using measurements and numbers in a more authentic and natural way.
Outside Play
If you think back to a childhood memory it is probably somewhere outdoors! Much learning occurs outside the classroom and in a more natural way. Does mud cakes sound familiar? How many scoops of mud was needed? What leaf and stone pattern did you use on top? The maths is endless! We also have an appreciation that some children prefer the great outdoors and thus we mirror the areas of the EYFS curriculum in the outdoor area also. This enables all children to have an equal access to the curriculum regardless of where they choose to play. Fresh air and the natural environment is said to have a positive impact on children’s learning.
Sessions
Full Days
*8am-3:30pm Monday-Friday
9am-3pm funded entitlement hours (15 or 30 hours)
Little Lighthouse Breakfast Club 8-9am
*Breakfast club is also made available for funded children at the hourly fee.
Half Days
*9am-12pm or *12pm-3pm (15 hours funded)
*Funded children will pay the 3-3:30pm late stay fee if required, which will be charged at 50% of the hourly rate.
A minimum of 2 full days are required or 4 half days.
*Funded spaces are limited*
The Little Lighthouse Nursery 