Welcome to Morris Minors

Morris Minors Pre-school is lead agency for the Croxley Green Children's Centre. Sure Start Children's Centres provide activities and services for children under five and their families. There are eighty-two children's centres in Hertfordshire, each serving a community of approximately 800 children under five. For more information please visit the Croxley Green Children's Centre website by clicking on the link opposite.

At Morris Minors we believe that young children learn best through play-based activities and experiences that promote independent learning. We use the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and there is now a seamless curriculum for children from birth to five years. Our qualified and experienced staff play a vital role in delivering the curriculum. The high adult to child ratio also ensures children receive excellent standards of care and education

‘The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help children achieve the five Every Child Matters outcomes of staying safe, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and achieving economic well-being.
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, 2007

We recognise that parents are the primary carers. We work closely with all parents and carers to enable children to flourish at Morris Minors. We operate a ‘key person’ scheme where members of staff have specific responsibility for individual children. Staff observe, assess and record developmental evidence of progress against the EYFS framework. The key person frequently works one to one with their designated children and regularly discusses progress with parents and carers.

Each new family receives a welcome pack containing full details of the Pre-school setting and curriculum. We publish a newsletter twice each term and hold consultation events on a regular basis.

The Pre-school has recently introduced progress reports to highlight individual achievements and inform new families how their child is settling in at the nursery. These reports may also contain development goals for children, encouraging a partnership approach and consistent messages at home and in the Pre-school.

The EYFS framework is divided into six areas of learning and development:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication, Language and Literacy
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Physical Development
Creative Development

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We encourage children to have respect for themselves and others. The children should be able to play together co-operatively and constructively, sharing and taking turns. Children can work as part of a group or independently. They should be working towards independence in dressing and their own personal hygiene. The children are developing an understanding of right from wrong. The children learn about the rules and routine at the nursery thus enabling them to appreciate and value the feelings of others. Top

Communication, Language and Literacy

Children learn to recognise their name by name cards and by sounds. We use Letterland to recognise letters in the alphabet. Children develop writing skills through free play activities using various types of crayons and pencils. Each day we share stories, poems and information books, to stimulate ideas and to extend language. We teach children to use books correctly and understand that print is read from left to right. We have a library at the nursery where children can sit and look at our books and have the opportunity to take a book home each week to share with their family. We encourage children to use written words when describing people and places. The children are able to talk about events from home thus promoting the importance of listening and taking turns when talking. Top

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy

We encourage children to develop their number skills and introduce them to the correct mathematical language. We teach children to understand about shapes, counting, sequencing, sorting and ordering. We also cover size, volume and quantity. We encourage the use of language spatial awareness, such as on, under, below and above. We promote the principle of one-to-one by matching paint brushes to pots or buttons to button holes. Children take it in turns to count their friends at snack time or at group time. We provide opportunities for the children to learn these skills through songs, rhymes, games, books and in free play. Top

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

We develop children’s awareness of the world around them, their environment, people and features of the natural and man-made world. Through a themed approach we explore topics and encourage children to become actively involved in their learning. We are fortunate to have access to outside play areas which we use most days. We talk about all religions and study different cultures. The children will learn about these through activities, stories, music and cooking. The children will begin to explore, experiment, solve problems and understand how things work and why they happen. They are encouraged to discuss and record their findings. We have a concert each year which can be seen by the parents. Top

Physical Development

Children develop fine manipulative skills and hand eye co-ordination through using pencils, scissors, paint brushes, threading, sand and water. We encourage children to develop muscular strength and co-ordination by throwing and catching, running, jumping and balancing. Through moving to music the children learn to control their bodies in relation to space, other people and objects. Spatial awareness is a concept which needs to be developed so that children can move safely and with confidence in their environment. We promote the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food. We offer a healthy snack each session and we always have drinking water available. We encourage children who bring in lunch to have a nutritional healthy meal. Top

Creative Development

The children express their own ideas and feelings through a range of experiences and resources. We value the child as an individual and provide opportunities to discover and develop their individuality. Children are able to use their imagination through painting, music, imaginative play, construction, design and technology. We have our own visiting pianist who accompanies the children singing songs and nursery rhymes. They will practice techniques such as cutting and rolling, experiment with tools through play dough, clay and other malleable materials. Children’s work is displayed in the room and the end result is accepted for its worth and uniqueness. This enables the children to gain confidence in the knowledge their work is valued. Top