Early Years Foundation Stage

 

​At Oakland Hall Day Nursery our curriculum is based upon the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which is defined by the Department for Education (DFE).

The Early Years Foundation Stage framework is reflected in our practice within an environment that ensures children experience a variety of rich play experiences which are carefully planned.

We encourage children to reach their full potential whilst allowing them to develop at their own pace. Each child’s development is closely monitored and encouraged.

Also, each Tuesday the super saplings and mighty oaks take part in tiny tots ballet. A dance teacher coms into the nursery and teachers the children’s different movements to music. Each term there is different theme such as ‘under the sea’ and ‘teddys bear picnic’.

We are also considering yoga/baby dance classes.

 

Working with parents

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Our relationship with parents is a key element to our success, and is essential to the well – being, development and progress of your child during their time at Oakland Hall Day Nursery. We welcome any new ideas from parents.

“Teaching is a broad term that covers the many different ways in which adults help young children learn. It includes their interactions with children during planned and child-initiated play and activities; communicating and modelling language; showing; explaining; demonstrating; exploring ideas; encouraging; questioning; recalling; providing a narrative for what they are doing; facilitating; and setting challenges.” Ofsted, 2025.

Our curriculum, Creating Confident Learners (CCL), aligns with the EYFS Statutory Framework and provides a rich, play-based learning journey from birth to age five, and is designed to create confident learners. It has been designed to nurture holistic development and provide all children with high-quality learning from birth, that is coherent and sequential, and builds children’s knowledge incrementally. All while promoting confidence, creativity, and curiosity in a safe and inclusive environment.

CCL is designed to be both ambitious and inclusive, setting age-appropriate goals for every stage of your child’s development and learning journey with us, whether room based, or part of our Forest School groups. Stories and nursery rhymes play a central role in helping our children explore and understand new ideas and vocabulary. Each month features a key learning topic, and each room plans weekly themes inspired by this focus. These topics have been carefully mapped and planned out depending on celebrations and seasonal festivities, so our curriculum and each child’s learning flows naturally throughout the year.

Alongside our ambitious curriculum, we offer our children a chance to take part in many daily enrichment activities such as Bucket Time, Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle, Guided Drawing, School Readiness, and weekly extra-curricular activities such as Ballet, PE with Coach Emma and All Sorts Tots. Encouraging children to reach their full potential whilst allowing them to develop at their own pace is at the centre of everything we do!

School Readiness:
As part of our School Readiness Programme, our Saplings and Oaks children take part in fun ‘Maths Moments’ and ‘Sound Sessions’ each day, giving them the chance to explore numbers, sounds, and new skills in engaging ways. In Mighty Oaks, our School Readiness Officer offers extra support through small group and one-to-one activities, helping children develop in areas such as phonics, maths, fine motor skills, and emotional regulation. Our School Readiness Officer carefully tailors each activity to suit the needs and interests of every child, ensuring they receive the best possible support for their individual learning journey.

We are proud to use the Anima Phonics and White Rose Maths programmes to support our planning and enhance children’s school readiness.

School Readiness:

As part of our School Readiness Programme, our Saplings and Oaks children take part in fun ‘Maths Moments’ and ‘Sound Sessions’ each day, giving them the chance to explore numbers, sounds, and new skills in engaging ways. In Oaks, our School Readiness Officer offers extra support through small group and one-to-one activities, helping children develop in areas such as phonics, maths, fine motor skills, and emotional regulation. Our School Readiness Officer carefully tailors each activity to suit the needs and interests of every child, ensuring they receive the best possible support for their individual learning journey.

We are proud to use the Anima Phonics and White Rose Maths programmes to support our planning and enhance children’s school readiness.