Curriculum
Our Intent
At Little Loco’s Day Nursery our curriculum is designed to create a unique, homely, learning environment, in which each child can flourish and reach their full potential. We will ensure a child develops a love of learning during their time with us. We take a modern, creative approach to Early Years education while still upholding traditional British values of good manners, kindness and respect for others.
Little Loco’s Day Nursery challenges the deterministic view that some children are born more or less able and instead focuses on nurturing and developing the individual talents inherent in each child. We believe it is this approach that fosters self-belief in every child allowing them to develop into self-confident and competent young people. We reject the traditional notion of success, that getting something right is more important than attempting something new and so encourage and praise children’s willingness to try new things, to question their knowledge and abilities and more importantly to feel pride in their attempts and develop an ability to learn from their failures. This approach allows children to understand and recognise their true potential, develop an analytical mind and build the confidence needed in order to be able to make their own decisions and judgements.
We hope our children achieve the following before they leave nursery:
- To be confident communicators who can express their individual needs
- To develop their gross and fine motor skills in order to live a happy, healthy and active life
- To have the tools to develop emotional resilience, make good friendships and respect each other’s views
- To be positive problem solvers and critical thinkers
- To have the time to experience the love of reading and books
- To have a broad understanding and appreciation of the world around them, valuing each other as a team
- To develop an artistic and cultural awareness that enables their imagination, independence and creativity
- To gain enough confidence and independence to progress to their next stage of their learning
0-12 Months
- Take turns in conversation through babble, gestures and single words
- Confidently and curiously cruise around the room exploring their environment
- Beginning to use resources to feed independently and encourage social interaction during
mealtimes
- Forming close attachments and developing trust with a friendly staff team and other children
- Enjoy exploring books and participating in active singing opportunities with a range of
resources
- To be able to stack a variety of objects either on top, inside or next to each other
- To explore a range of sensory experiences both inside and outside using their fingers and other parts of their bodies
- Confidently move and respond to music, join in with movements and gestures
- To learn and develop manners when eating, playing with friends and interacting with other adults and children.
12-24 Months
- Confidently say or gesture a number of words and begin to put two or three words together
- Independently move and explore all the physical resources both inside and out
- Feed and serve themselves independently at each mealtime, whilst socially interacting with each other
- Use an open top cup and have the confidence to pour their own drink
- Confident to make independent choices, willingness to try new things and develop a positive sense of self
- To explore and handle books with interest enjoying our book of the week
- To explore mark making opportunities in their environment during their play
- Participate in number rhymes and singing using a variety of resources
- Curiously explore the kitchen garden, outside play area and the local community
- Develop skills and confidence by exploring sensory experiences, messy play, using a range of natural or unnatural materials
- To learn and develop manners when eating, playing with friends and interacting with other adults and children.
2-3 Years
- Confidently use a broad vocabulary of words, communicate in simple sentences and follow specific instructions
- Explore the physical equipment independently both inside and outside
- Feed and serve themselves independently at each mealtime, whilst socially interacting with each other
- Use an open top cup and have the confidence to pour their own drink
- Independently identify their belongings and encourage them to put on their coats and wellies
- Encourage awareness of their feelings by developing strong trusting relationships with the caring and nurturing team
- Encouraged to use the toilet independently and understand the importance of self-care, for example, handwashing and nose blowing
- Developing a connection with familiar stories, songs and resources
- To understand everyday routines
- Encourage learning opportunities during constructive free play sessions
- Curiously explore the kitchen garden, outside play area and the local community
- Stimulate their imagination by encouraging pretend play, free play, child led play and learning opportunities
- Develop their imagination by using a range of materials to be creative
- Willing to try new things and feel pride in their attempts of learning whilst developing the ability to learn from their experiences when things don’t go right
- To learn and develop manners when eating, playing with friends and interacting with other adults and children.
3-5 Years
- Confidently articulate more complex sentences and use a wide range of vocabulary to communicate including the ability to answer questions
- Develop listening and comprehension skills during story time, show and tell sessions, songs, rhymes and poems
- Confidently take risks in their play and become equipped to negotiate space and awareness during this time
- Develop knowledge of how to keep themselves healthy by eating a healthy, balanced diet and having awareness of their personal hygiene needs and complete regular exercise
- Encourage awareness of their feelings by developing strong
trusting relationships with peers, staff and family, understanding how to keep themselves safe.
- Independently identify their belongings and have the ability to dress themselves including putting shoes, wellies and coats on when wanting to go outside
- Confidently identity their emotions and understand how to support
their own emotional wellbeing whilst treating others with respect care and kindness
- Delight in having a love for reading and books and use their
extended vocabulary and gestures to tell their own stories
- Recognise numbers and patterns to build a bank of mathematical language and develop problem solving skills
- Willing to try new things and feel pride in their attempts of learning whilst developing the ability to learn from their experiences when things don’t go right
- Develop a deeper understanding of different cultures, the world
and the community they live in, celebrating their similarities and
differences between peers’, family and staff
- Develop their imagination by using a range of materials and
resources to be creative, encouraging them to recognise letters and their name
- Confidently engage in physical activities inside and outside, interacting with all age groups within the setting
- Develop a deeper understanding of where food comes from, how to grow it, nurture it, harvest it and finally cook with it
- Gain an understanding of the importance of recycling and how to care for the environment they live in
- Feed and serve themselves independently at each mealtime, whilst socialising interacting with each other
- Use a cup and have the confidence to pour their own drink and know to help themselves to a drink at any time of the day
- Understand the next steps of their learning journey and feel ready to take on their new challenge
- To learn and develop manners when eating, playing with friends and interacting with other adults and children
73a Appletongate
Newark
NG24 1LN
© 2025 Little Locos