You may be researching different nursery schools in your area, are keen for your child to head to a nursery that teaches in a particular style, or you’re looking for unique features like a Forest School. All of these factors are great for a high quality nursery school that has its students at the heart.
To explore what makes a good nursery school curriculum, here are some pointers as recommended by this nursery in Wandsworth.
Open-ended learning
Children should feel free to explore when they’re in a nursery school setting. They’re not required to adapt to usual school changes just yet, so this is the perfect time for your child to get immersed in the materials around them. Whatever your child gets up to in nursery will focus on the processes and not the end product.
Imagination is at the forefront
A good nursery will involve a range of creative and freedom-filled processes that allow children to open up to a world of imagination. Nothing a child does in nursery would be forced, rather encouraged to help them pick out what exactly makes their imagination run wild.
Teachers tend to childrens’ needs
A young child in nursery won’t have the attention span of a much older child, and also won’t be used to sitting up straight at their desks. Nurseries will be taught by sitting children around in a circle or in groups and won’t require them to sit still for long. Children won’t be expected to sit quietly and listen to the teacher for an extended period of time either – they should be involved in the process at every stage.
It involves a lot more speaking and listening
A child in nursery is at the start of their learning journey. This is where everything they absorb is key, and so speaking to children as they listen is the best way to give students the right information.
Workbooks and more traditional methods of learning won’t apply here, as the environment is going to be more open and led by the children themselves. A great curriculum will use a range of learning methods to guide children through their first years of study.