At Holly Primary School we believe that all children deserve an education rich in wonder and memorable experiences that allows children’s natural creativity and curiosity to flourish, alongside the purposeful acquisition of skills and knowledge. We believe that an education that does all of this gives children the best chance to become well-rounded, happy individuals, ready to succeed in an ever-changing world. Please view our Welcome Booklet and details of Nursery Provision Options. Please also note that In September of the academic year that children have their fifth birthday, they begin ‘F2’. These children form our Reception Class and attend school full time.
Meet the Team
We also recognise the importance of giving our children the best possible start to their education by planning and implementing teaching and learning opportunities that supports them in reaching their full potential. We know that children enter the Nursery and Reception classes with varied life experiences and we aim to plan teaching and learning opportunities accordingly to address this. Our family atmosphere and close links between home and school help children to settle into school life from their very first day.
General Information
Holly Primary School recognises the crucial role that Early Years education has to play in providing firm foundations upon which the rest of a child’s education is successfully based. Learning is introduced through structured, active and imaginative play. The development of language skills are vital to enable children to access the whole curriculum and so short focused times each day are dedicated to the teaching of speaking, listening, phonics, reading and early writing. We aim to develop in children a natural love of quality picture books, nursery rhymes and traditional tales.
We base our topic themes around the seasons of the year and naturally occurring events. Our learning takes place both inside and outside in a wonderful outdoor environment which include a story garden with listening logs, fairy tree and post box, a wooded pond area which was created by Sir David Attenborough, a large mud kitchen and den building area, a small woodland library and an allotment and poly tunnel. These spaces allow children to explore nature in a physically hands on approach, which enables children to develop the skills, attitudes and understanding that will form the basis of lifelong learning and encourage them to become useful, active members of a diverse and constantly changing society.
Nursery – Progression of Skills Information
Reception – Progression of Skills Information
We follow the Foundation Stage Curriculum which covers seven areas of learning:
The Prime areas are:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language; Physical Development
The Specific areas are:
Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design
We use the Development Matters document to track the milestones in child development.
“The Foundation Stage is about developing key learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence and learning to work together and cooperate with other children. It is also about developing early communication, literacy and numeracy skills that will prepare children for key stage one of the National Curriculum” (Qualification and Curriculum Authority, 2000)