Aims of St. Ronan's Nursery Unit
Every child should be given the opportunity to:
- develop at his / her own rate through challenging, progressive play
- learn to play with others and play co-operatively
- appreciate others and practice social skills]
- deepen and lengthen concentration through his / her natural spontaneous curiosity and interest
- choose and explore a wide range of materials which allow him / her to express himself / herself appropriately and creatively
- become aware of his / her own body's capabilities and limits in a safe environment
- communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly to both adults and children]
- share the wonder and excitement created by books, stories, songs, rhymes, music and the natural environment
Pre-School Curricular Guidance
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This Area of Learning is of the utmost importance for young children in all aspects of their lives. It is about children’s emotional well-being, understanding of who they are, and respect for others and their environment. It is also about forming and sustaining relationships, beginning to understand emotions, learning how to self-regulate, and developing positive dispositions to learn. Good personal, social and emotional development gives children the best opportunity for success in other Areas of Learning.
Physical Development and Movement
Children enjoy physical play both indoors and outdoors. They revel in freedom of movement and in play that is inventive, adventurous and stimulating. Physical play that develops gross motor skills, for example running, jumping, climbing, skipping, hopping, balancing, kicking, striking, throwing and catching, helps children to develop balance, control, co-ordination and an awareness of size, space and direction.
Language Development
Language development is crucial to living and learning: to communicate with others, to share and express feelings, to give and obtain information, and to understand ideas and develop thoughts.
Early Mathematical Experiences
A positive attitude towards and an understanding of mathematical concepts are important in everyday life. These develop slowly in young children, so they need opportunities to revisit activities and to experience mathematical ideas in many different contexts. Staff in the pre-school setting should seek to extend, informally, the mathematical experiences the children have already had in their home environment. This helps to lay the foundations for positive attitudes.
The Arts
Being creative is about making new things, taking risks, experimenting, coming up with new ideas, solving problems and coping with uncertainty. Creative play, both indoors and outdoors, not only helps foster these skills but can also assist with emotional development and social interaction. It can promote aesthetic awareness and be an avenue for self-expression. Partnership with parents is important so they understand the learning and value in the experiences their children engage in, including potentially ‘messy’ activities.
The World Around Us
From their earliest days, children try to make sense of their world. They are naturally curious about their environment and the people around them and frequently ask questions. Through a wide variety of activities and experiences in play, children begin to develop a range of skills and concepts such as observation and experimentation.
St Ronan's Nursery Admissions Criteria
