At Nippers Nursery, learning is all about exploration, discovery and joy. We believe that the early years are a magical time when children are naturally curious and eager to learn – and we’re here to nurture that spark every step of the way.

A curriculum that builds foundations

Our EYFS curriculum is designed to provide a safe, nurturing, and stimulating environment where children feel valued and confident to explore. We aim to develop curious, independent, and resilient learners who are well-prepared for the next stage of their education.

Our curriculum supports all areas of development, ensuring a balance between:

• Prime areas: communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development

• Specific areas: literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.

We believe children learn best through first-hand experiences and play-based learning. Opportunities both indoors and outdoors—including experiences like beach school—encourage children to investigate, create, and problem-solve. We prioritise communication and vocabulary development, ensuring children are continually exposed to rich language through conversations, storytelling, and shared experiences using the ShREC approach.

Learning in nature

Learning in the outdoors plays a powerful role in both academic development and personal growth. Young children learn best through play, exploration, and hands-on experiences, making education more meaningful and memorable for our pupils. With this in mind, we ensure that we prioritise opportunities to learn in nature with regular access to our outdoor spaces in the school grounds, including 'The Lookout', which houses our sand and water garden and our Woodland space. 

Regular beach school visits to the beautiful Port Gaverne provide rich and meaningful learning experiences for our EYFS pupils, supporting their development across all areas of the curriculum. It helps children build a strong connection to their local environment, fostering respect for nature and an early understanding of sustainability. Beach school provides a unique and valuable extension to classroom learning, helping our EYFS pupils grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence while learning through real-life experiences.

Wellbeing and belonging

Our intention is to develop confident, happy learners who can manage their own needs, build positive relationships, and show resilience when faced with challenges.

We view relationships between staff and pupils as key to creating an environment where children feel safe, confident, seen and valued allowing them to thrive in their own unique way. 

Embedded in our daily routines, children are taught how to show the Port Isaac way, being ready, respectful and safe in their learning.  We strive to meet the needs of every child in our setting by:

• Building on prior knowledge and interests
• Supporting all abilities and backgrounds

• Providing equal opportunities for success

In our setting, we celebrate success regularly which results in a supportive environment where children are motivated to try new things, take risks in their learning, and develop a lifelong love of achievement and growth. We ensure that success is inclusive and meaningful, focusing on each child’s individual journey rather than comparison with others.