About us
Our Curriculum
Our practice is based on four guiding principles
Every child is unique child
Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Support
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and/or carers.
Development
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.
We believe children learn best through:
First hand experiences which are well structured and meaningful
Interacting with others in a cognitive and reflective way
Being physically active
Having their interests valued, developed and extended
Our approach to learning is through a holistic, play based curriculum which is child led and where adults are viewed as partners in learning.
Early years framework
The Early Years Framework outlines learning areas of which children should learn and develop. These are:
Personal Social and Emotional Development
- Self-Regulation
- Managing Self
- Building Relationships
Communication and Language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding
- Speaking
Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials
- Being Imaginative and Expressive
Physical Development
- Gross Motor Skills
- Fine Motor Skills
Literacy
- Comprehension
- Word Reading
- Writing
Mathematics
- Number
- Numerical Patterns
Understanding the World
- Past and Present
- People, Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
Outdoor Learning in 'The Spinney'
At Purley Nursery School we are incredibly lucky to have access to our Federation Partner Christ Church School's large woodland area named 'The Spinney' that we use specifically for outdoor learning sessions linked to the international Forest School approach.
Claire our Early Years Practitioner passionate about Forest School, runs 4 block sessions a week for nursery children alongside parent volunteers.
Sessions include a variety of activities including:
Exploration of the natural world
Den building
Outdoor art and craft activities
Construction involving natural materials
Experiencing a fire pit and enjoying warm drinks and cooking enrichments with Ella (Early Years Practitioners from Christ Church School)
Developing and promoting independence and effective learning attitudes e.g. perseverance and resilience.
Consideration of seasonal changes
Outdoor learning at Purley Nursery Schools needs volunteers
If you're:
- Not afraid to get muddy and get down with the children in their play!
- Motivated to learn new skills to support early years education
- Available Wednesday mornings from 9.00-12.00 and/ or Thursday afternoons 12.30-2.30
- Open minded to jump into the beautiful and creative minds of children.
Helicopter stories
Helicopter Stories: Letting Imagination Fly is based on the Storytelling and Story Acting initiative by Early Years Researcher and Pioneer Vivian Gussin Paley. The creative approach is aimed at developing children's language and story telling skills, alongside their personal, social and emotional development.
Children love to create their own stories and this creative approach enables every child to be an author and creator of their own stories and characters.
Admissions form
For more information and to apply for a nursery place, complete an application form and return it to the office, by post or email it to:
office@purley.croydon.sch.uk.
