Setting children up for success at school in the early years

Jane O’Brien, Head of Nursery at King’s House School in Richmond, reflects on the importance of an excellent early years education.

A high-quality early years education is one of the most important factors in a child’s development, and sets them up to have the best start in life.

At King’s House Nursery we aim to foster a happy and relaxed atmosphere where children learn to relate to one another and to adults through play-based activities, laying the foundations for independence and learning.

We offer a free-flow provision with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. In both Caterpillar Class (rising 3s) and Butterfly Class (rising 4s) the focus is on developing the three primary areas and four specific areas of learning.

We are lucky to have highly experienced staff, many who have been with us since the Nursery first opened in 2009. With a staff ratio of 1:6 and small group activities, teachers know each child and communication between home and nursery is excellent. Our staff work hard to create a curriculum which promotes curiosity and independence: the class theme changes each week, varying from ‘under the sea’ to ‘people who help us’. It is wonderful to see the boys and girls engaging with the topics, and ‘animals’ is always hugely popular! The children love talking about their pets and learning about farm animals.

The children also love being visited by different people to enrich their learning, such as groups who teach Makaton. A huge range of specialist teaching develops specific skills, from PE lessons to weekly yoga sessions to promote gross motors skills. In Butterfly Class children are introduced to French in weekly circle time as well as having sessions from music and drama teachers. Technology also plays a key role in understanding the world, and children are introduced to a range of simple equipment and early coding toys.

Literacy and maths form a key part of the early years. Early mark-making skills and fine motor control are promoted through a wide range of activities, and we teach the anima phonics programme in Butterfly Class and Reception to introduce children to the 42 phonic sounds of the English language through a multi-sensory approach. We have a maths mastery approach ensuring children learn the essential problem solving skills needed as they move through their time at school.

Developing social skills is a vital aspect of a child’s early years development. We are a polite, courteous and kind community, placing a great emphasis on how to share, take turns, listen to and be kind to others. The boys and girls love caring for the sunflowers and seeds they have planted in the playground, creating a space that everyone respects. Butterfly Class are also able to enjoy the school’s 35-acre sports ground on Sports Day: it is a real privilege to have access to this outdoor space in London. A highlight for Reception is their weekly visits to Forest School in Ham Woods, developing children’s appreciation for nature.

We love seeing how far our boys and girls come from their first day in Caterpillars to the end of Butterfly Class, ready to start in Reception. With the Nursery and School linked at King’s House, the transition is helped by the boys participating in whole school events and being familiar with the ‘big school’. We also enjoy excellent relationships with future schools for our girls. The children move on having developed essential life skills throughout their time at Nursery.

Our first children who started in King’s House Nursery in 2009 are now finishing their time at school, and it is wonderful to see how they have grown into resilient, happy and confident young people.

This article first appeared in the 2023 edition of Which School? You can view the digital version of the guidebook here: