Our Curriculum

What is a Curriculum?

A curriculum is the full range of experiences, opportunities and learning that we provide for children during their time with us. It includes everything children see, hear, do and feel, both planned and unplanned, and supports them to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours they need for the future.

Our Ethos

At Blue Willow Day Nursery, we believe that children learn best when they feel safe, valued and cared for. Our ethos is rooted in nurturing strong relationships, creating a calm, homely and enabling environment, and recognising each child as a unique individual. When children are happy, they can learn.

We place great importance on the prime areas of learning, particularly Speech and Language to support the best outcomes for them. Mixed aged socialising, support to develop confident, independent and resilient children, outdoor learning and equal opportunities and inclusive practices for SEND or disadvantaged children is also the foundations or our ethos.

Our Intent

Our curriculum is designed to support every child to feel confident, curious and ready to learn. We recognise that children develop at different rates and bring their own experiences, interests and personalities.

Our curriculum aims to:

• Support children to feel safe, secure and valued
• Focus on the prime areas of learning for strong foundations and best outcomes

And to Provide:

• A warm, homely environment where children feel safe and valued
  Opportunities for mixed-age socialising
  Support to develop confident, independent, and resilient children
  Outdoor learning opportunities (adapted within each nursery)
  Equal opportunities for all children, with strong inclusive practice and support for SEND or disadvantaged children.

Our Implementation (How We Deliver Our Curriculum)

We deliver our curriculum through a balance of child-led and adult-supported experiences, with a strong focus on meaningful interactions and responsive care.

Our approach includes:

• Play-based learning that follows children’s interests and fascinations
• Planning in the moment, allowing practitioners to respond to children’s ideas and extend their learning naturally
• Calm, enabling environments both indoors and outdoors that promote exploration, creativity and independence
• Skilled practitioners who build strong relationships and support learning through high-quality interactions
• A focus child approach, where each child is regularly observed and supported to ensure their development is well understood

We use observations, learning journals and reflective practice to ensure that every child’s learning journey is carefully supported, celebrated and shared with families.

The Impact of Our Curriculum

Through our curriculum, children:

• Make good progress from their individual starting points
• Develop confidence, resilience and independence
• Build strong, trusting relationships with adults and their peers
• Show curiosity, engagement and a love of learning
• Are well prepared for the next stage in their learning, including school

Further Information

For more detailed information about our curriculum, please see our full document below: