Nursery Plum
Welcome to the Plum Class
Welcome to the Plum Class information page! Here you will find updates and news about everything happening in our Nursery. We are delighted to welcome both our new and returning children to Plum Class this year.
A warm thank you to all parents and carers for your kindness and support during our recent home visits. We hope that you and your children found these visits helpful and reassuring as we begin this exciting new school year together.
Our Nursery Team
- Miss Laura Clayton – Class Teacher
- Mrs Nadine Philips – Teaching Assistant
Our Daily Routine
Our Nursery day is divided into two sessions:
- Morning Session: 8:45 – 11:45 am
- Afternoon Session: 12:15 – 3:15 pm
We also offer a limited number of full-day places.
Please ensure that your child arrives and is collected promptly at the start and end of their session. At Dashwood, we encourage all children to develop independence from the very beginning. We kindly ask parents to say goodbye to their children at the Plum Class door, allowing them to enter the classroom on their own. Our staff will support each child as they hang up their belongings and find their name on the self-registration board. Children can then choose an activity to help them settle in and begin their day confidently.
Learning Through Play
Every day, the children take part in a variety of carefully planned activities designed to promote learning through play. We call this part of our day “Discovery Time.” During Discovery Time, our adults are actively involved in supporting and extending the children’s learning through exploration, conversation, and play. This approach ensures that each child is progressing towards their individual next steps in a fun and engaging way.
Carpet Sessions
Each day also includes carpet sessions, where children are encouraged to sit together, listen attentively to the teacher, and share their ideas with one another. During these sessions, we focus on developing important early skills such as counting, storytelling, and mark-making.
We also complete daily focus activities where the children work independently in small groups or individually with an adult to work on different areas of learning. These are often focused on the prime areas to help secure learning and build a strong foundation for future learning.
If you would like to continue supporting your child’s learning at home, please visit our Useful Links page for a selection of helpful activities and resources.
Physical Development and Outdoor Learning
In addition to our daily classroom activities, our weekly timetable includes PE and Forest School sessions. During PE, children develop their physical movement and coordination skills through a range of fun and engaging activities such as climbing, balancing, ball skills, dance, and simple games. Children do not need a PE kit for these sessions, however, we encourage them to practise independence by removing and putting on their own shoes and socks. This is something that children could practise at
home in preparation.
Our Forest School sessions take place every Friday in the wildlife area. Forest School offers children wonderful opportunities to explore, investigate, and
learn in a natural outdoor environment. On these days, children may come to Nursery dressed in their own clothes that you don’t mind getting a little muddy!
We ask for the children to bring wellies on that day also to let them get fully involved in the mud and water!
Recording and Sharing Learning
Throughout the school day, staff carefully observe and record each child’s learning and development using our secure online learning journal, Tapestry.
Parents and carers have access to their child’s Tapestry account, enabling them to see what their child has been learning in Nursery and to share special
achievements from home. This partnership between home and school helps us to build a full picture of each child’s progress and celebrate their successes
together.
For more information about Tapestry, please click here: https://www.dashwood-aspirations.org/early-years/tapestry/
Our Curriculum
Each term, our activities and learning environment are planned around a central story or topic, often inspired by the children’s own interests.
For example, in Term 1, our topic is Traditional Tales, with a focus on the story The Enormous Turnip. Children love retelling our focus stories at home and bringing them to life through imaginative role play and creative activities.
You can view an overview of our topics for the year here:
Plum Curriculum Plan
Plum – Long Term Curriculum Plan
At Dashwood Nursery, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, which provides a framework for supporting children’s learning and development. The EYFS is divided into three Prime Areas and four Specific Areas of learning:
Prime Areas:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
Specific Areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
For further information on the EYFS curriculum, please visit:
Guidance to your child’s learning and development in the Early Years Foundation Stage
Working Together
At Dashwood Banbury Academy, we pride ourselves on building strong, positive relationships with both children and their families.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss any aspect of your child’s time in Plum Class, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the Nursery team. We are always happy to help and look forward to working closely with you throughout the year.