Curriculum

Practical Life Skills
The use of the Practical Life materials allow the children to develop their independence and confidence. This is accomplished through meaningful activity, using real-life familiar objects to acquire and perfect skills of daily living. These exercises help develop concentration and co-ordination of movement, together with perseverance, patience and care of one’s self and the environment. Emphasis is placed on courtesy, good manners and the consideration of others.

Sensorial Activities
Sensorial materials are introduced to help refine the senses and each piece of equipment contains one isolated quality such as size, colour, sound, smell and texture. The materials help the children to recognise differences and similarities and enable impressions to be taken with clear understanding. As shape defines the characteristics of all written letters and numerals, geometric shapes are introduced at an early age to help with shape recognition and further extend vocabulary.

Language Development
We are constantly providing opportunities for extending vocabulary through conversation and circle time. This is essential for the development of social skills and future academic work. The children learn the phonetic sound of the letters and are encouraged to build their own words before reading the words of others. They then move on to reading and writing and a real understanding of language and that written symbols carry meaning. In many different lessons the children are exposed to songs, stories and rhymes that further assist their talking and listening skills. The ever changing book corner gives them the opportunity and encouragement to become familiar with books and their uses.

Maths
The Montessori designed materials are used to introduce the concepts of Maths. The children learn quantities and matching symbols, always working from concrete (what they know and can see) to the abstract, developing a natural understanding of basic mathematical concepts. The children become familiar with sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing, and counting activities, which form the basis for early mathematics.

Culture
We aim to give children an awareness of themselves as individuals and as individuals within a greater environment. We want to nurture a feeling of love, and respect and responsibility of the natural world during a time when children are highly sensitive to their environment. We introduce lessons involving Geography, Science, Cookery, History and Biology to assist the child in his quest for knowledge. In this nurturing environment the children are supported in developing their confidence, independence and self-respect. They are encouraged to work independently but also as part of a group, sharing and working with other children and adults. Through activities, conversation and practical example, they learn to express their own feelings and have respect for the feelings of others.

Creative Development
At Dawmouse Montessori Nursery School, we encourage the children to develop their artistic abilities using the full range of artistic and craft materials. The children are encouraged to construct their individual response to experience in two and three dimensions. There are many opportunities for imaginative role-play, both individually and as part of a group. We also have a Music lesson to introduce singing and playing of musical instruments, sound and rhythm. During the Music lesson we prepare for the Easter concert and Christmas play. We also have a Dance and Drama lesson to introduce balance, control of movement, co-ordination and expression.

Physical Development
Dawmouse is a supporter of a Physical Development programme being at the core of the curriculum. We have a daily active learning programme that incorporates a range of exercises in our spacious gym to include non-competitive games. The children are encouraged to work together and individually in movement programmes that involve listening skills, use of new vocabulary, range of movement and use of imagination. There is also a gym lesson to develop motor skills such as climbing, jumping, throwing, hand to eye co-ordination. This lesson is used as preparation for Sports Day. Playtime is also an important stage of development for building relationships, imaginative role-play, using space and relaxation.