Curriculum Enrichments
Nära Enrichments
In order to give our children access to the broadest possible experiences during their time with us, we have designed a bespoke set of “extra-curricular” activities which are designed to enhance children’s opportunities for learning and development.
These activities go beyond the educational programmes set out in the Early Years’ Foundation Stage (EYFS), which sets the standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old.
However, we want to enrich our children’s days with as much fun, exploration, challenge and learning as humanly possible! That is why we call these activities Nära Enrichments.
One problem we have found with traditional “extra-curricular” activities (which are usually provided by external companies), is that some children might miss out on taking part if they don’t attend on the particular day or time the activity takes place.
That is why at Nära Horton, we train our own staff to deliver most of these activities. As well as giving our team the opportunity to continue to grow and develop, this has the added benefit of staff truly knowing your child, and having a deep understanding of how they learn best. This means our team are able to adapt the sessions to meet each child’s individual interests and needs, rather than sticking to a rigid ‘lesson plan’. It also means we can guarantee every child is included in the activity.
Coming Soon
We are delighted to shortly be introducing…
Forest School
Forest School is an approach to outdoor learning which inspires children of all ages. It develops self-confidence, self-esteem and increases feelings of well-being through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment with trees.
Extensive research has shown that children attending Forest School sessions have: stronger social skills; a greater ability to work in groups and as part of a team; higher self-esteem and confidence; greater independence; improved self-awareness; stronger communication skills; better concentration and co-ordination; improved mental health; and an ability to assess risk.
Forest School has its roots in Scandinavia and the modern concept of Forest School was established in Denmark, and so it aligns perfectly with our “hygge” approach to learning.
Forest School Leads at our nursery undertake an accredited Level 3 Forest School Lead qualification, and offer children experiences, such as: making dens; exploring tracks; using simple hand tools to make wooden objects; cooking on fires; creating art; playing and climbing; finding and identifying wildlife; planting fruit, vegetables, flowers and plants; creating and following maps; enjoying stories and songs…in all weather and in all seasons!
Emotion Coaching
Emotion Coaching is an approach based on research by the American psychologist, John Gottman, and is designed to support children in being able to identify and explore their emotions.
In turn, this allows children to understand and regulate their emotions, giving rise to reflection and an ability to nurture emotionally supportive relationships. This promotes resilience and positive outcomes for children as well as supporting the development of social skills, and enhancing their communication and language skills.
We encourage our families to use the methods promoted by Emotion Coaching at home, and offer free parent workshops to support those parents who wish to adopt this approach.
