How We Learn At Nursery

At St James' Church School Nursery we learn in lots of different ways, following the Early Years Foundation Stage. We play with toys and games, experiment with art and craft materials, use play equipment and musical instruments, and enjoy new experiences with special visitors and trips out. We also encourage parents to come in and share in our learning through workshops and events.

Sharing Stories

Sharing stories helps us to learn in so many ways:

Awareness of rhyme and rhythm

Learning new words and vocabulary

Developing our imaginations

Understanding others' feelings

Developing our listening and attention skills

Using our memories when we talk about the stories we have listened to

Lots of the children have been borrowing books from the Nursery library, and enjoying choosing which book to borrow next! If your child has not yet started using the Nursery library, and you are unsure what to do, please speak to their Key Worker.

Numbers

While children are learning to count, and even before then, they are developing their awareness and understanding of number names. You can really support this at home by singing Nursery rhymes that use numbers:

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

Five Little Speckled Frogs

10 fat sausages

Click here for a range of nursery rhymes we sing at Nursery!

Click the numbers above to play an underwater counting game!

Somerset Total Communication

We use a lot of sign language to help us communicate in the Nursery. Below are some of the signs we use regularly every day.

Each week we have focus signs and these will be displayed in the cloakroom. If your child is using signs at home and you aren't sure what they mean, please come and ask us!

HELLO: Thumb up, move hand out from body 
STOP: Hold hand up, palm outwards
HELP: Use lower hand to lift upper hand upwardsSITTING: Move both hands downwards
WALKING: walk fingers along arm
FINISHED: Make hands into fists and place together

FINISHED: Open hands up and move downwards

MORE: Make lower hand into fist

MORE: Upper hand goes flat on top

Forest School

We also take a trip to Forest School every week. Forest School is a great way of learning outside, whether through drawing, collecting, climbing, being imaginative or making relationships. 

Some of the activities we do during free flow play!

Painting sticks develops our fine motor skills 

Counting, emptying and filling with conkers.

 Using tweezers strengthens our fingers/ hands