We aim to create a happy and relaxed ethos that is conducive to learning where children:
- Develop confidence and self-esteem
- Are provided with opportunities and experiences, which will lead to attitudes, skills and understanding, which will promote effective learning
- Are given opportunities which allow them to have a sense of achievement and celebrate achievements out with the nursery
- Can development positive relationships with their peers and adults
- Have access to excellent Gaelic Medium Education and celebrate Gaelic culture.
Curriculum for Excellence
In line with all educational establishments in Scotland we are implementing Curriculum for Excellence which is the national curriculum framework from the Scottish Government for children and young people age 3-18 years. The purpose of the curriculum is encapsulated in four capacities – to enable each child and young person to be a successful learner, a confident individual, a responsible citizen and an effective contributor.
We use Curriculum for Excellence – Early Level outcomes and experiences for planning learning with children 3 – 5 years and our own establishment guidance. In order to ensure
we are delivering high quality learning experiences, we also use a document called How Good is Our Early Learning and Childcare which helps us to self-evaluate and monitor the impact on children’s learning. There are copies of these documents in the nursery and they can also be accessed online at Education Scotland. (http://www.educationscotland.gov.uk/).
Throughout Lyoncross there are displays of children’s learning and the curriculum in action. The curriculum offers a balanced range of experiences, which promote:
Maths and Numeracy Sciences Social Studies
Technologies Expressive Arts Religious & Moral Education
Health & Wellbeing Literacy and English Literacy & Gaelic
We deliver the curriculum through active learning using children’s own experiences as our starting point. The learning experiences offered to children will include outdoor learning, ICT – smart board, creative art, sand and water, cooking, baking, discovery, problem solving, music, puzzles, construction and physical play, and this list is not exhaustive. They also enjoy finding out about other cultures, looking after one another and the environment. We use Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies (PAThs), an emotional literacy programme, as a back drop throughout our Curriculum with children. If you wish to discuss curricular planning, please do not hesitate to ask.
Gaelic Medium Education at Lyoncross
The curriculum is also delivered through total Gaelic immersion within the Harris Room at Lyoncross where the same principles are delivered using the Gaelic medium to deliver learning experiences through active learning using children’s own experiences as our starting point. There is an emphasis on language acquisition and celebration of Gaelic culture which permeates the Harris room.
Assessment & Reporting
Each child will have their own family book which their Key Worker, your child and you, will add to as they progress. We use a variety of methods for assessing progress such as observation, peer assessment, self-assessment as well as informal chats with you. We use a tracking & assessment document for formative assessment for all children as well as a tracking & assessment document for all children in Gaelic based on the national Benchmarks.
The first formal meeting will be in November and the second will be at the end of May. If you wish to discuss your child’s progress out with these meetings, please speak to your child’s Key Worker or the Leadership Team.