Our Curriculum Rationale
Our curriculum is child-centred and inclusive. We recognise and value the knowledge, interests and the experiences children bring from home. These are used as a starting point and through focused observations, interactions and exploration we strive to extend the learning by linking them to the experiences and outcomes for the subject areas of Curriculum for Excellence:-
These are:
- Language
- Mathematics
- Health and Wellbeing (which includes PE)
- Expressive Arts (Drama, Music, Art and Dance)
- Social Studies
- Sciences
- Technologies
- Religious and Moral Education
Staff are responsive to the questions and intrigue of our young children so changes to plans may happen on a daily basis. Planning for learning is done in collaboration with the children thus enabling them to direct their own learning.
We value the importance of the outdoors in improving the health and wellbeing of our children using the wellbeing indicators – Safe, Healthy, Achieving, Nurtured, Active, Responsible, Respected and Included to ensure all children are supported and can realise their full potential. Our outdoor classroom allows children to access all curriculum areas in the same way they can indoors.
We are always looking forward identifying areas for improvement to continually develop our practice, the learning environment we create and the experiences we provide. We use Realising the Ambition: Being Me (our National Practice Guidance on Early Learning and Childcare) and the Quality Improvement Framework for Early Learning and Childcare to support us in providing a quality curriculum for our children.
Our curriculum rationale is created taking into consideration the context of our nursery, our ethos, pedagogy and values as well as our robust continuous self-evaluation.
Our key drivers which help shape our curriculum are:
· our belief in the importance of play and the child being at the centre of what we do
· the significant level of children with strength in literacy and numeracy
· the significant level of children with English as an additional language
· the wealth of experience, knowledge and learning from home that our children bring to their nursery experiences
More information can be found in our
Play Pedagogy
We value play as essential learning where children learn new skills and work collaboratively with others to make sense of their world. We have a shared understanding of the importance of play being child-centred with quality interactions and observations key to developing and extending children’s interests. We blend intentional planned experiences with a flexible and responsive approach to children’s learning. We want our children to be intrinsically motivated by ensuring there is a wealth of choice and experiences. We aim to create a play environment of optimum learning and engagement that is fun, joyful, difficult, and complicated.
Digital Pedagogy 
Digital pedagogy is the study and use of contemporary digital technologies in teaching and learning.
Please read our rationale for digital learning at James Gillespie’s Nursery.
We support children’s experiences in digital learning taking into consideration those before and whilst progressing through our setting, ensuring we regularly update our skills. We use digital learning to create a unique learning space that promotes children’s natural curiosity. Through guided interactions we extend, deepen and enhance learning within and out with the setting. We encourage children to learn with, about and through digital technology in a safe, supportive environment.
Learning at the Early Level – Information for Parents and Carers
Parents and carers have a key role to play in the success of Curriculum for Excellence in terms of ensuring that they support their children’s learning in partnership with staff.
It is important that parents and carers are aware that Curriculum for Excellence is flexible and meaningful, promotes real-life learning and focuses on the needs of every child and young person.
For more information on play and active learning and how to support playing and learning together at home, please follow the links below
