Preparing our Preschoolers for their Next Big Step!
As we approach the summer, our WRAP Nursery team is working hard to ensure that our oldest nursery children are ready for their next exciting adventure—starting school! Come September, they will be embarking on a new journey, joining various schools across the city. To make this transition as smooth as possible, we focus on equipping them with essential skills that will set them up for school.
“Nursery is about preparing children for life” says Nikki, our Nursery Manager. “To me, being school ready is all about having self-confidence and skills to cope with, and excel in, the school environment”. This means that one of our primary goals is to foster independence in our preschoolers. By the time they leave us, they should be able to:
Feed themselves: Our nursery children always serve themselves their food, from the age of 18 months, so they will have had plenty of practice int his area!
Dress themselves: Mastering the skills to put on their clothes, including doing up their own coats.
Use the toilet independently: This is crucial for their confidence and comfort at school.
Educationally, phonics plays a critical role in early literacy. We ensure that children:
Know the majority of single sounds: Recognising and articulating sounds is fundamental.
Have a minimum knowledge of ‘satpinmdgock’: These are the basic sounds that form the foundation of reading.
A strong start in maths can boost a child’s confidence and interest in the subject. Our preschoolers will be able to:
Count forwards and backwards to 10
Recognise numbers 0-10
Effective communication and social interaction are vital for school readiness. Our nursery team helps our preschoolers to focus on:
Verbalising wants and needs to adults: This skill helps children express themselves clearly and seek help when needed.
Taking turns and sharing: Learning to play cooperatively with peers.
Playing independently: Developing the ability to engage in activities without constant supervision.
And finally, fine motor skills are essential for writing and other classroom tasks. We ensure that children can:
Write their own name: A significant milestone in early writing.
Hold scissors correctly: Proper grip and control for safe use in craft and other activities.
Our comprehensive approach ensures that each child is well-prepared for the demands of school life. We are so proud of the progress our preschoolers have made - many of which have been with WRAP since we first opened our doors! We will miss them all terribly, but we are all so excited to see them thrive in their new school environments. We will them all the best for a bright and successful start to their educational journey!
