Across our Early Years unit at Hazel Leys Academy, we cherish childhood and want ALL children to be happy, to enjoy nursery/school and love their learning! We strive to create an engaging and practical learning environment that fulfils all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage, where children can learn through their interests and develop the skills that will help them in school and beyond! Our shared values will guide children in their decision making and underpin their moral development in school. 

Please see our Early Years Rationale which clearly outlines our curriculum intention, implementation and impact. 

Values at Hazel Leys 

 At Hazel Leys, we have core value of respect starts in Nursery and continue all the way to year 6. We believe that children should learn how to respect themselves, through emotional regulation, perseverance and praise. Knowing what they want to achieve and setting out to do it is a great mindset which we encourage all children to aspire to. The children are expected to respect the environment around them by handling resources carefully and working as a team to during tidy up time. Finally, through a strong sense of respect for yourself this can be shared with the people around you. Building positive relationships with staff and pupils ensures that all children show respect to each other through kindness and consideration to everyone they come across.  

Nursery staff 

Miss Moorhouse (Nursery teacher) 

Miss Coupland (EYFS assistant) 

Mrs Clough (EYFS assistant) 

Learning this term 

Please see our newsletters below which outline the learning and activities we do each term in all areas of the early years curriculum. 

Phonics 

In nursery, we follow the Little Wandle ‘Foundation for Phonics’ programme which develops children’s awareness of sounds through listening and blending games. We believe that by encouraging children to explore sounds and develop their awareness at an early age will best prepare them for their phonics teaching in Reception.  

Reading for Pleasure 

We know how important it is for children to foster a love of reading and we model this in our nursery. Staff will choose meaningful and engaging texts to deliver our curriculum and have daily story telling time. In addition to this, the children will be able to choose a story book each Friday to take home as their ‘Reading for Pleasure’ book. 

Useful links to use at home 

NURSERY RHYMES 

COUNTING SONGS   

COUNTING SONGS 

PHONICS/ALPHABET SONGS 

Reading 

BIG CAT COLLINS  

Please ask a member of staff if you need help with your login information for Big Cat Collins.

Observations 

In nursery, we believe that creating strong links between home and school is essential for our children’s educational experience. Staff use an observational tool called Tapestry to share purposeful and significant learning experiences with families. Families are also encouraged to share experiences that the children have outside of nursery which can be shared and celebrated with the other children and staff. 

Please see a member of staff if you need any support with Tapestry.  

Nursery Curriculum 

At Hazel Leys Academy, we aim to provide all pupils with a stimulating and inclusive educational environment in which everyone feels safe, respected and supported to grow and develop to their full potential. 

Our purposeful curriculum is therefore designed to give children the entitlement to: 

• Knowledge - develop a rich and deep subject knowledge 

• Skills - secure basic skills in reading, writing and maths 

• Enrichment - develop new skills and independence through a variety of contexts and enrichment experiences 

• Culture - provide a cultural, arts and sporting programme 

• Aspiration - be curious learners - experiencing the engagement in, challenge and enjoyment of learning 

• Diversity - gain an understanding of fundamental British Values to inform their own moral code 

Please see our three-year curriculum cycle and this years long term plan which outlines curriculum coverage in more detail.