CURRICULUM

At Banbury Cross, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, however, a number of our teachers are Montessori trained and we incorporate certain aspects of the Montessori method in our teaching as well. Our nursery is a stimulating and nurturing environment, which helps the children develop into confident and independent learners. 

As well as Literacy and Numeracy, our morning sessions are made up of science, art, craft, and cooking. The children also have weekly music, dance, and activity classes, which are taught by specialist teachers. These activities stimulate the children’s imagination and further their creative and physical abilities. They are also taught practical life exercises that encourage independence. Due to our high staff ratios, every child is given as much individual attention as they need in order for them to realise their full potential.

In the afternoons, the children enjoy participating in a variety of fun activities, such as Yoga, Etiquette’s, English pronunciations, Zumba Dance, and Story Telling. During each term, we also organise a variety of special events and trips: Sports Day, Green Day, Mothers Day, Independence Day, Graduation Day and All major festivals plus a lot more.

At Banbury Cross Academy’s Kindergarten, we ensure that our nursery meets the learning and development requirements outlined in the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) as well as incorporating certain aspects of the Montessori Method. Children are offered a broad and well-rounded education.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is made up of seven areas of learning:

Our teachers support each child’s emotional well-being, ensuring that they are confident to take part in new activities and work with others. We provide the children with experiences and support that lead them to develop a positive sense of themselves, as well as respect for others, social skills, and a positive disposition to learn.

We support and extend the children’s learning and competence in communicating, speaking, and listening. Children are provided with opportunities and encouragement to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves, and speaking and listening in a range of situations. If your child speaks English as an additional language, with the support and encouragement they receive here at Banbury Cross, they will master the English language rapidly, and will gain the ability to communicate with both children and adults fluently.

We encourage the children’s physical development through a variety of opportunities to be active, to improve their coordination, and to control both their fine and gross motor skills. The children are supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food and lifestyle. Our curriculum includes the opportunity for the children to explore their fine motor skills through activities such as pegging, spooning, and cutting. The children are encouraged to develop their gross motor skills in the soft playroom and during our daily outdoor activities. They also have the opportunity to explore football, street dance, and other fitness classes each week.

We follow both the Jolly Phonics and the Letters and Sounds programmes, whilst also enjoying the learning process through a variety of games and open-ended mark making activities. The children have access to a wide range of reading materials at school to ignite their interest in books. They visit the local library regularly to choose books to practice their reading skills, and to research topics with support from their teachers.

The children are supported in developing their understanding of mathematics in a broad range of contexts through which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practice, and talk about their developing understanding of numbers, shape, space, and measure. They are provided with a wide range of opportunities to practice their mathematical skills, and to gain confidence in using mathematical language and concepts.

We fully support the children in developing their knowledge and understanding in order to help them make sense of a growing and technological world. We encourage them to take an active part in the community through walks and by supporting a variety of charities. We promote Indian values within our nursery, as well as celebrating a variety of festivals and celebrations from other cultures and beliefs. Parents and carers play an integral part in this and are encouraged to come into the school and contribute to the children’s understanding. Our curriculum also includes a variety of activities that provide opportunities for the children to care for the natural world, for example, during Forest School and our gardening sessions.

The children’s creativity is supported through our provision of materials and equipment, as well as through the extra peripatetic sessions that they participate in. They are encouraged to explore and share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings through a variety of mediums, such as art, music, movement, dance, design technology, and imaginative role-play activities.

At Banbury Cross Academy we have ‘Settling In’ Morning’s for our new children the term when they start. This is an opportunity for parents and children to see their new school and to meet the teachers in a fun and relaxed atmosphere. We usually start off our newbies in the soft play room where kindergarten specialist teachers take care and pay special attention, building a rapport with their assigned group of young ones.

New parents will be asked to complete a simple questionnaire to help us find out useful information about their child and the rest of their family. This will help us to make your child’s first day at our nursery a happy and comfortable one. We also invite all parents and extended family on your child’s memorable ‘first day at school’ where we have numerous activities lined up for the morning to get you off a magical and memorable start!