There is no formal homework during the Nursery Year. However, we will plan weekly activities which require support from home e.g. sending in photos or completing a questionnaire for a particular topic which we will post on Google Classroom. We would really appreciate it if you could participate in home-school activities as they form a valuable part of our topics.
Helping your Nursery child at home
Personal skills
Encourage your child to dress/undress themselves. In the Nursery year, the children will practice putting on and taking off their shoes, socks, jumper and coat by themselves.
Encourage your child to use the toilet by themselves including wiping themselves, flushing the toilet and washing their hands.
Encourage your child to eat independently using a knife, fork and spoon.
Other skills
Share books and read to your child as often as you can. This helps to develop a love of reading and also supports language development.
Take every opportunity to talk with your child and join in their play.
Maintain your home language/s where appropriate. The children will have plenty of opportunities to practice English at school.
Provide a range of mark making implements such as crayons, pens, pencils, paint brushes so that children can practice drawing and pre-writing skills and develop their pen grip gradually.
Listen to and sing songs and rhymes. Sing – even if it isn’t your strong point!
Sing counting songs, such as ’10 Green Bottles’, ‘1, 2, Buckle My Shoe’ and ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Once I Caught a Fish Alive’. Singing songs is a good way for children become familiar with counting.
Talk about numbers around you. Numbers are all around us, from calendars to door numbers, street signs to car registration plates. Pointing them out and talking about them with your child can show that they have a real life context. Try pointing out numbers when you’re out and about – on front doors, the front of buses and train platforms.
Count whenever you can – remember practise makes perfect! Count how many stairs there are, or how many toy crayons or toy cars they have. Ask children to help you sort the cutlery or the laundry – counting as you sort.
Try not to practice ‘formal learning’ with your child e.g. through bought activity books, work sheets, writing practice. Children of this age learn best through play, conversation and real-life experiences. When the children progress up the school, they will be given homework activities which enrich what they have been learning at school and reflect their stage of development.
School reminders
‘Library Time’ is every Thursday. Please read your child’s chosen book with them and talk with them about why they chose it and what they liked about it. Please return the book on Thursdays.
Please send your child in with their water bottle every day as this ensures that they can have a drink whenever they want/need one and also develops independent self care. It is really helpful if the bottle is decorated e.g. with stickers so that it is easily recognisable.
Please send your child in with their school bag every day and check it each evening for any correspondence from school.
Please remember that school starts at 8.55 am but you can arrive anytime from 8.30am. School finishes at 3.05pm for children who stay all day and 12.00pm for children who stay Mornings only.
I am always available to discuss any concerns or queries. Please e-mail the office and I will contact you. You are also very welcome to make an appointment for a longer meeting at any time. Formal parents’ evenings take place two times per year but we would much rather address any problems or concerns as they arise.
There is no formal homework during the Nursery Year. However, we will plan weekly activities which require support from home e.g. sending in photos or completing a questionnaire for a particular topic which we will post on Google Classroom. We would really appreciate it if you could participate in home-school activities as they form a valuable part of our topics.