Up to 2 Years - Snowdrops
At Lavender Hall babies are looked after in a warm, safe, relaxing and homely atmosphere, and cared for and nurtured by our specialist baby nursery nurses. They will ensure that a close relationship is developed between them, you and your baby. Correct communication enables each baby to develop with the best attention and stimulation at all times in the fully equipped baby room.
2-3 years old - Bluebells
The children are given the choice to embark on a wide range of activities with varied equipment, both structured and led by teachers, or through free play which is felt to be equally important. Each child is discreetly encouraged to gain confidence whilst learning to mix, share and play with children, although possibly a little shy away from home, they are soon having fun with the Lavender Hall gang.
3-5 years old - Sunflowers
All children at Lavender Hall are encouraged to develop their individual skills without any pressure. We provide a variety of educational facilities that include specialised arts activities such as movement, music and ballet without neglecting maths, science and the essentials of reading, using a combination of schemes.
Dancing and Ballet
Healthy Body and Mind
Drama
Nature Play
Bake Club
Visits from the local community
Dedicated and caring staff
A wonderful outdoor environment
Our aim is for each child to enjoy learning and, only when ready, experiment with letters, words and writing skills along with colours, shapes and counting. Communication is constantly developed at all stages in the kindergarten.
Curriculum Intent
At Lavender Hall Kindergarten children are encouraged to learn through play. We wish for our children to be happy, for it is in these circumstances that they truly shine and flourish. We feel that it is essential that children are highly motivated, interested and have a sense of their own achievements.
The majority of our days at Lavender Hall is free flow, allowing children to engage in a range of different activities both indoors and outdoors. Children engage in activities independently with their friends, as well as taking part in adult facilitated activities that are planned from children’s interests and developmental needs.
We believe that both our nursery nurses and our children’s families have a role to play in maintaining positive attitudes to learning and thereby enhancing the child’s self-esteem.
Curriculum Objectives
• To provide all of our children with equal access to a rich, broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum, well matched to their ages, abilities, interests, attitudes and needs. To enhance them to become successful learners who enjoy learning, making progress and achieving their full potential.
• To increase children’s knowledge, skills and understanding as they grow and develop and strengthen their connections with the world around them, so they have the opportunity to become responsible citizens and make a positive contribution to society.
• To facilitate awe and wonder and cause children to see the wonderful world in which they live enabling them to become confident individuals who are able to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives.
Implementation
Our Curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage.
There are three prime areas:
• Personal, Social and Emotional development – Making relationships. Sense of self. Understanding emotions.
• Physical development – Moving and handling. Health and self-care.
• Communication and languages – Listening and attention. Understanding. Speaking
There are four specific areas:
• Literacy – Reading and writing
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the world – People and communities. The world. Technology
• Expressive arts and design – Creating with materials. Being imaginative and expressive
We incorporate all seven areas of learning into our daily activities, resources and planning, ensuring the children have a well prepared, inviting and stimulating environment.
Through the dedication of our staff and of our planned curriculum our children will have fun through play, as we feel that enjoyment and happiness are recognised as holding intrinsic value. We encourage our children to become actively and independently involved within the activities and resources that we provide for them.
All of our children are observed and assessed regularly by our staff ensuring that all of their needs are being met and that they are continuing to develop, progress and blossom. Staff record their observations and photographs of the children on the Online Learning Journal Tapestry.
We operate a key person system at Lavender Hall Kindergarten. Our key person approach gives every child the reassurance to feel secure and cared for, helping them to become familiar with the nursery environment.
Below are some activities included within our Curriculum that is offered to all of our children:
• Ballet, music and movement – We have a wonderful dance teacher who provides an exciting dance experience for our children to learn, explore and experiment with sound, music and movement. These engaging sessions give children the opportunity to express themselves and to take part in a fun physical activity.
• Nature play at Lavender Woods – Our children are able to explore the awe and wonder that our woodland area creates, aiming to promote their holistic development. Children are given the props and natural materials to create mucky mud pies in our mud kitchen, take supported small risks with step climbing and small tree climbing, explore the habitats of mini beats and then of the bugs themselves, and become creative within their imagination and roleplay in our campfire and den building area.
• Healthy body and mind – The well-being of our children holds an important place within the ethos of Lavender Hall. We offer a range of activities to support children with their feelings and self-care. Staff particularly focus on talking and sharing our feelings, how the children look after themselves (brushing teeth etc), being healthy, keeping ourselves safe and calming yoga time.
• Bake club – Children make, bake and create wonderful yummy treats to either enjoy at nursery or to take home to share with their families. Cooking promotes the teaching of life skills, fine motor skills, language development, simple mathematics and for children to take part in a shared turn taking group activity with their peers.
