At Primate Dixon Primary School we have 52 Full-Time Nursery places. 

The Nursery Day is from 8.45am - 1.15pm each day and a midday meal is available. 

Application to Nursery is by Open Enrolment through the Education Authority pre-school admission procedures. 

https://www.eani.org.uk/parents/admissions/pre-school-admissions-guide

The Pre-School Curriculum

Each of the following areas will be available daily for your child. The curriculum is carefully structured so that the children can participate in a range of activities that are interesting, challenging and enjoyable. The curriculum is planned in such a way as to emphasise the process not the product.

 

The Pre-School Curriculum is divided into six areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development and Movement
• Language Development
• Early Mathematical Experiences
• The Arts
• The World Around Us

 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Children learn to express themselves, co-operate and share.
• Develop social skills, build self-esteem and gain confidence.
• Begin to understand their emotions.
• Follow simple routines and develop independence, such as tidy-up time and putting on their own coat.
• Develop positive dispositions to learn.
• Children will be given time to develop and know they are valued as individuals.
• Make choices and take responsibility.
• Play with other children and help each other.
• Become aware of personal safety, hygiene and taking care of themselves.
• Good PSE development gives children the best opportunity for success in other areas of learning.

 

Physical Development and Movement

 

• Develops gross and fine motor skills.
• Enhance manipulation and hand-eye co-ordination.
• Helps with co-ordination and balance.
• Develops a sense of space.
• Provides challenges & opportunities for success thus promoting self-esteem and confidence.
• Provides opportunities to respond creatively to a range of stimuli, such as music, songs or equipment.

 

Language Development

• Language development is central to all learning that is taking place in the Nursery.
• Children will talk about their play, experiences, feelings and ideas.
• Extend their receptive and expressive vocabulary.
• Children will learn rhymes, poems and songs.
• Children will have access to a wide range of story and information books.
• Children will listen to stories.
• Become aware that printed word has meaning.
• Children are encouraged to “write” in their play using a variety of tools – pencils, crayons, chalk.
• Writing should be interpreted as scribbling and mark making, where children mimic what writers do. It is not intended to imply that children should be forming letters, although over time some children may begin to do this.

 

Early Mathematical Experiences

• Opportunities to develop mathematical language.
• Develop positive attitudes towards mathematics.
• Match, sort, order, compare, classify and count.
• Develop and explore mathematical skills and concepts such as, shape, capacity, number, size, pattern etc.
• Children’s understanding and enjoyment of early maths can be enhanced through songs, stories and games.
• Develop an understanding of sequences and time. These include daily and weekly routines such as snack and dinner time, helper days etc.

 

The Arts

• Creative activities offer a variety of sensory experiences and opportunities for self-expression.
• Provides opportunities to extend their creativity and develop originality of thought.
• Develops fine motor skills, hand–eye co-ordination, manipulation skills.
• Provides enjoyment.
• Gives children opportunities to experiment with colour, shape and texture.
• Talk about their work using appropriate language.
• Through drama and dance, children are able to express their feelings and imagination.

 

 

The World Around Us

• Children are naturally curious about the world and how it works.
• Children will be given opportunities to observe, explore, investigate and experiment with a range of materials, such as making dough, cooking and planting seeds.
• The hands-on approach enforces skills and concepts.
• Children will be given opportunities to develop an understanding about the environment around them.
• Talk about the seasons and weather.
• Take some responsibility for their own environment.
• Play with materials associated with people in their community, e.g. Doctor and shopkeeper.

 

Spiritual Awareness

• Spiritual awareness will be fostered through prayers, songs, stories, visits to the chapel, drama and music.

 

Music

• Opportunities to create and respond to music.
• Develop an awareness of pulse, rhythm and tone.
• Enhance listening skills and become aware of sounds around them.
• Listen to and join in songs and rhymes.

 

Outdoor play

Outdoor and energetic play are essential parts of the nursery day. Therefore, please ensure that in cold weather your child has a warm coat, hat and gloves with him/her every day. In warmer weather, your child must bring a sun hat each day and have sun block put on before they come into the nursery.