Our Play2Talk Nursery curriculum is based on the principle that learning needs to be child-led and child paced. Education should encapsulate all areas of development, including the social, academic, emotional and physical; with an overall focus on bringing out the innate, unique character and talents of each individual learner.

We believe strongly that children experiencing delays with their development should be supported, using evidence based techniques, to develop spoken language wherever possible.

We do this through our high staff ratio, which includes 1-1 time for each child, using and developing individual motivation and sensory preferences to support children to learn to use spoken language to request, ask questions, comment and communicate with their peers.

We also believe that children with communication challenges need to be helped to develop a sense of self; so that as they learn to communicate their preferences and dislikes, including self-regulation and being taught to recognise and label emotions.

Our team are both champions and a mentors for every learner, helping them to unlock their abilities and build confidence in their capacity to handle challenges independently.

These principles are reflected across our unique environment and our teaching ethos across all abilities.

Our Nursery Class aims to support children to access the Early Years Foundation Stage in a multi-sensory and language rich way, which may not be available to them at non specialist provisions. Whilst following the core principles of the EYFS, we differentiate for each individual learner dependent on their strengths, challenges and motivation.

Our focus on language rich learning provides children abundant opportunities to learn individually collaboratively through exciting experiences designed to challenge, whilst building success in learning in a small group setting.

We know that children of all ages learn best when they are provided with rich opportunities to follow their interests and learn together through exploring problems and finding solutions. These are the foundations on which the heart of our Nursery Class is based, and the focus of all teaching and learning experiences that we create for the children in our care.

The Key Aims of Our Curriculum:

  • To support children to experience the world across all areas of learning.
  • To provide a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the strengths, needs and interests of each individual child.
  • To ensure our children are prepared for a wide range of life experiences, including the option to access mainstream/ non specialist educational provisions at any point.
  •  To improve choices and life-chances for our children long-term. By providing a unique focus on teaching language and communication skills.
  • To provide children across ability levels with the opportunity to consolidate their new learning; to use and apply it to make connections to previous learning to help them develop a broad and deep understanding of their world.

How we implement our curriculum:

  • Our teaching team has been selected for their expertise in supporting children to learn at their own pace, whilst recognising and fostering their strengths.
  • Our curriculum is linked to the EYFS and differentiated according to individual and group interests/ strengths.
  • Learning is centred each term around a theme or topic that is linked to individual and group interests.
  • All subject learning is interconnected, rather than discrete so that children have a wider experience in applying their knowledge and skills across contexts and concepts.

Theme Focus per Fortnight

These fortnightly themes are the foundations of all learning at. Learning within each subject area is embedded within the theme.

Core Areas: EYFS

Communication and Language

All staff are trained in using Play2Talk strategies and techniques and will support children in 1-1 activities, paired play and whole group to experience language learning in small steps and develop their listening skills as per their individual targets.

Personal Social and emotional development

Working closely with caregivers we focus our first 2 terms on supporting children to identify their preferences from a sensory perspective in order to then support them to start to learn to self regulate. Children’s personal, social and emotional development is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives, and is fundamental to their cognitive development.

Physical Development

Gross motor development is often an area of strength for children with communication delays. Through fostering each child’s own unique physical profile and sensory preferences, we will use gross motor activities to support other areas such as Communication and Language and PSED. All fine motor skills learning will be targeted as part of our themed activities across the year.

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