In their final year before starting school, children enter the pre-school room. Activities here remain firmly play-based, but children are gently introduced to the idea of school.
Each day is divided into certain learning focuses.
Personal, Social and Emotional
Typically on a Monday, each child is encouraged to think about what they have been doing during their weekend and share their thoughts and feelings with a small group before drawing and writing about it.
Pre-school children also have 'large group time' which involves 'show and tell', helping with the home-nursery link. Children are encouraged to bring in things from home to show to their friends. This not only helps with each child's ability to listen and take turns, but also improves their independence, confidence and self-esteem.
Literacy and Language
In the Pre-School Room children focus on learning letters. Every two weeks children are taught a different letter of the alphabet, covering letter formation, its sounds and name. JCN has adopted the Jolly Phonics approach to reading and writing. This is not only great fun, but helps each child to easily learn their letters by introducing a different action for each letter.
Numbers and Mathematics
Throughout JCN, children are constantly encouraged to develop basic mathematical understanding through many different activities, be it, for example, through jigsaws, dominoes or match puzzles.
At the pre-school level our aim is to help children attain a solid understanding of numbers as well as the ability to confidently use mathematical language to describe shape, position and size.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Children are encouraged to explore their surrounding environment. In the Pre-School Room children read interesting books from around the world, look at maps and postcards and talk about different habitats, for example deserts and oceans. Science is also an important part of the Pre-School Curriculum. Children have ample opportunity to experiment with water, magnets and construction.
Physical Education
Typically Friday is P. E. or dancing day, where pre-school learning activities do not take place. Instead, this session allows children to develop control and coordination whilst using many different types of equipment. As with the other age groups, children have access to the modern, well-equipped outdoor play area and garden throughout the year.
When children leave the Pre-School Room they have built up the skills, confidence and self-esteem necessary for a smooth transition into school.
