"I have found this nursery to be clean and well run. The staff seem to genuinely care for the children. They participate in the Early Years Vouchers scheme too which is helpful."
"I have both my children at First Steps and have always found the care excellent. The staff are helpful and friendly and obviously enjoy their job and the children. I would recommend it to everyone."
At First Steps we work to the government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Our staff work hard to make sure that all children grow and develop during their time with us. We keep records which tell us how children are developing and help us to plan activities to help them progress and our careful planning and good organisation helps the children to develop self confidence, self reliance and self esteem. Our activities and play sessions are structured in a way which will help children to develop and learn new skills.
Our toys, equipment and activities are carefully chosen to be appropriate for the children’s needs and to stimulate their interest. Our rooms and outside play area are planned to provide a wide range of activities from which the child can make their own choices.
The EYFS is made up of six areas of learning and development:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The children are encouraged to work and concentrate independantly, as well as taking part in the group to share and co-operate with other children and adults. Through conversation, activities and practical example, they learn acceptable ways to express their feelings and to respect the feelings of others.
Communication, Language and Literacy
The children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and fluency by talking and listening, and by hearing and responding to stories, songs and rhymes. Children are helped to understand that written symbols carry meaning, to be aware of the purposes of writing and, when they are ready, to use drawn and written symbols for themselves. A well stocked book corner gives every child the opportunity and encouragement to become familiar with and able to handle the books.
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
We have developed a whole range of fun nursery activities that provide opportunities for mathematical learning, size and shape recollection and understanding matching and sorting. Our staff will introduce language and ideas which will prepare children for numeracy.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
The children are assisted with exploring and understanding their environment, both within the group and the wider community. A range of safe and well maintained equipment enables the children to extend their technological understanding using simple tools as appropriate, to achieve their intentions and solve problems.
Physical Development
A wide range of equipment and opportunities, both indoors and outdoors, allows the children to develop their confidence and enjoyment in the use and development of their own bodily skills developing increasing skill and control in moving, climbing and balancing. At the same time, the children are supported in the development of the fine motor skills required to use tools, including pens and pencils, and to handle small objects with increasing control and precision.
Creative Development
Using a wide range of resources, the children are encouraged to express their own ideas and feelings. Art equipment, including glue, paint, crayons and pencils along with natural resources, provide exploration of colour, shape and texture. They also help the development of skills in painting drawing and collage. The children join in with and respond to music and stories - there are many opportunities for imaginative role-play, both individually and as part of a group.
We work on all these areas from our babies with leaning to share, talk, count, finding out about how things work, walking and painting through to our oldest children who are beginning to read, work with numbers and understand their place in the world.
