WELCOME                            

Welcome to our Nursery class at Willaston, also know as the Little Acorns class. We are part of the Early Years Foundation Stage at Willaston Primary Academy along with the Reception (Saplings) class. 

Little Acorns is located within the building of Willaston Primary Academy and provides a stimulating environment for children aged 3 to 4 years old. Admissions are in the term (commencing September, January or April) following the child’s 3rd birthday.

The nursery offers a wide range of exciting activities and resources, which promote each child’s learning across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, including an external play area which provides children with endless opportunities to play, discover and learn in a naturally inspiring environment.

"Wrap-around care" offered by our before and after-school club (our "Willaston Worms") complements the nursery and works in conjunction with the holiday club. These three extended services ensure that children aged 3 to 11 are in a safe, nurturing environment that caters for the needs of modern families.

If you would like to make either a firm or provisional booking for a nursery place for your child/ren then please complete and return the registration forms and booking forms below and return to the school office.

          EARLY YEARS CURRICULUM          

Our curriculum and practice is led by the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. We learn through seven key areas of learning which include:

Three Prime Areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Making Relationships, Self Confidence and Self Awareness and Managing Feelings and Behaviour

Physical Development: Moving and Handling and Health and Self Care

Communication and Language: Listening and Attention, Understanding and Speaking

Four Specific Areas:

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding of the World

Expressive Arts and Design

In Little Acorns we focus on the prime areas to promote independence and self confidence, this will then enable children to be successful in the specific areas of learning.

We aim to create engaging and stimulating activities to encourage children’s learning and social development. Your child will be provided with a wide range of learning experiences through teacher led and child initiated activities.

We aim to create a safe, interesting and welcoming environment where your child can enjoy learning and have fun.

                     PROVISION                    

Our provision activities consider the individual needs, interests, and stage of development of each child. They support all areas of learning and are changed regularly to provide a wide range of experiences. Outdoor provision is an important part of our curriculum and children can safely access outdoors all day. We also  go in to our woodland area every week to access forest school activities.

When  planning and guiding children’s activities, we reflect upon the different ways that children learn and include these in our provision. The 3 Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning are:

Playing and exploring – engagement

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to have a go

Video on the importance of play

Active learning – motivation

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing to do things