Our Curriculum

Curriculum For Excellence

The 'Curriculum for Excellence' is the core of our learning. Early Level provides the framework for children in Nursery and Primary 1 to become successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.  More information can be found at Curriculum for Excellence: Experiences and outcomes (education.gov.scot)

The eight curricular areas covered in the Curriculum for Excellence are:

• Expressive Arts

• Health and Wellbeing

• Literacy and Languages

• Numeracy and Mathematics

• Religious and Moral Education

• Sciences

• Social Studies

• Technologies and ICT

Realising the Ambition: Being Me (2020) is the key resource in guiding and supporting the delivery of the highest quality early learning and childcare in nurseries realisingtheambition.pdf (education.gov.scot)

At the heart of our practice is the principle of ‘Getting it Right’ for every learner. To ensure we meet all of our learners’ wellbeing and learning needs, we follow the GIRFEC National Practice Model in line with East Lothian Council policy. We also underpin our practice with the aims and ambitions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Learning in the Nursery

Our curriculum is child-centred; following the interests of our children, taking into consideration individual needs and stages of development and linking them to the experiences and outcomes of Curriculum for Excellence.

In the nursery the children learn predominantly through play. They have the opportunity to participate in a range of activities both indoors and outdoors. These include;

• Mark-making, drawing and writing

• Puzzles and fine motor skill activities

• Building and construction

• Small world play

• Number and maths

• Sand and water

• Creative area for painting, modelling, making woodwork, play dough

• Imaginative play including kitchen and house area

• Music and drama

• Loose materials play using everyday objects

• Technologies – the Interactive whiteboard, cameras

• Cooking and baking

• Planting and growing

• Role play and dressing-up

The children choose what they want to do and nursery staff support their learning, ensuring that they have breadth and balance across the curriculum. Some activities encourage children to work on their own, some in a small group or larger group; sometimes with an adult to support the learning and sometimes without.

By observing a child at free play and in a group situation, plans are made, co-created and adapted to suit the interests and development of the children.

Children’s learning is carefully tracked using our tracking sheets and through responsive planning and careful, focussed observations.

Additional learning experiences

Throughout the year the children have the opportunity to participate in a wider range of experiences and learning opportunities in the nursery setting and beyond. Activities include;

• Nature nurture

• Play on pedals

• Regular local library visits

• Weekly wanders in our local community

• Specialist classes – dance and football

We welcome parent/carer volunteers on a regular or one off basis and value the many skills you have. If you have time to support the nursery curriulum, please let a member of the nursery staff know. Further information about volunteering in the nursery can be found in the Parentzone section.