What Will Your Child Learn In Pre-Nursery?

Your child’s first year of school will be filled with many fantastic moments, as it is a time of social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.

In Pre-Nursery we provide lots of opportunities for your child to learn through play based activities such as story time, messy play and Playdough gym. Your child will be able to gain knowledge and important skills through play and creative activities. Building blocks and doodles on the drawing paper are not just for entertainment, they are teaching tools for problem solving and self-expression.

Pre-Nursery is the perfect social environment for your child to develop positive relationships with peers and to build their self esteem. It is also a time for your child to begin to develop skills that will aid their learning. If your child feels confident, and understands that mistakes are a part of learning, they will become curious students in the future, and confident learners for life.

Communication and language

In Pre-Nursery your child will begin to build their English vocabulary through the use of nursery rhymes, songs and picture books. They will begin to develop their listening skills, and will be able to look at books independently in the reading area. Your child will begin to understand and respond to simple instructions such as “where is your coat?” or “what would you like to play with?”. They will begin to develop the skills needed to communicate with adults and peers.

Numbers and counting

At school: Teachers will encourage your child to count by singing a range of fun number songs such as, 5 Little Ducks and Ten Green Bottles. They will be shown how to count objects and toys using 1:1 correspondence. When your child begins to put toys in size order they will be taught the correct mathematical vocabulary i.e. small, medium, big. Children of this age are not expected to recognise numerals, but will be able to represent numbers on fingers and through making marks.

At home: We see numbers all around us, in books, on food and in television programs. You could try asking your child to identify them, and count everyday things together such as, the stairs you walk up, the crayons in a box, and the blocks on the floor. You could ask your child “How many cereal boxes are in the cupboard?” and “How many oranges are left in the bag?”

Fine motor skills

At school: Your child will build up the strength in their hands to enable them to use one-handed tools such as scissors. As they develop better hand-eye coordination, they will start drawing and colouring beyond scribbles and will learn how to hold and use pencils, paintbrushes, and gluesticks.

At home: Be sure to give your child plenty of jumbo crayons and markers, thick chalk, and ample opportunities to draw. You can also use malleable materials, such as playdough, to help build your childs’ fine motor skills.

Socialising and sharing

At school: Pupils will need to share and cooperate, work together and take turns, participate in group activities and follow simple directions.

At home: Develop your child’s social skills by arranging play dates, attending play groups and visiting social environments such as parks and playgrounds. At home, be consistent about simple rules your child must follow, such as making the bed or putting toys away.