Our Approach to Learning


Opening Hours and Daily Routines

Gilah is open Monday to Friday, with morning sessions running from 9.00am–12.00pm or 9.15am–12.15pm, depending on the child's session. Children can stay for Lunch Club until 2.00pm, or 2.15pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Our Breakfast Club runs every day from 7.30am until the start of the nursery session. We also offer afternoon sessions until 6.00pm, Monday to Thursday.

At Gilah, we believe that care and education go hand in hand. Our daily routines provide children with a balance of child-led play, adult-supported experiences, group times, outdoor learning, social experiences and opportunities to develop independence.

Throughout the day, we aim to:

  • Help every child feel valued, secure and part of the Gilah community.

  • Provide a safe and welcoming environment where children can explore with confidence.

  • Give children time and space to follow their own interests and develop their ideas through play.

  • Support children to build friendships and learn from being part of a group.

  • Introduce children to new experiences, skills and ways of thinking.

  • Encourage children to become increasingly independent and confident learners.

Children have opportunities to choose from a wide range of activities and experiences, allowing them to make decisions, follow their interests and become deeply involved in their play. Adults observe, listen and join children's play, extending their thinking and learning through conversation, questioning and shared experiences.

Alongside child-led learning, children take part in small- and large-group experiences led by adults. These introduce new ideas, skills and experiences while helping children learn to listen, communicate, cooperate and enjoy learning together.

How Children Learn at Gilah

We know that children learn best when they feel safe, secure and understood. Our high staff retention means that many members of our team have worked at Gilah for a number of years. This gives children the benefit of familiar adults who know them well, understand their interests and recognise how they learn and develop.

Our staff-to-child ratios also allow us to give children the time and attention they need. Adults are able to listen carefully, notice children's interests and respond to what they are curious about in the moment.

Our approach allows us to:

  • Build strong, trusting relationships with children and families.

  • Give children time, attention and encouragement.

  • Follow children's interests and nurture their natural curiosity.

  • Support learning through play, conversation and hands-on experiences.

  • Encourage independence, creativity and adventurous play.

  • Adapt experiences and support to meet individual children's needs.

  • Help children develop confidence, resilience and a love of learning.

Curriculum

Our curriculum is built around the individual child and the experiences, interests and relationships that are important to them. We provide a rich variety of opportunities for children to explore, create, investigate, communicate and develop their understanding of the world around them.

Learning happens throughout the day – in the classroom, outdoors, through messy and sensory play, in conversations with adults and friends, and through experiences that introduce children to new ideas and possibilities.

We use children's interests as a starting point and build on what they already know, helping them develop new skills and make connections in their learning. Our environment is carefully resourced to encourage curiosity, independence and exploration, while our experienced staff know when to step in, when to extend learning and when to simply give children the time and space to discover things for themselves.

Our curriculum supports children's communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world and expressive arts and design, while recognising that these areas of learning are closely connected and develop naturally through children's experiences and play.

Our Curriculum Statement

Curriculum

Gilah’s curriculum is developed to encourage children to become independent, confident learners. 

We believe that all children deserve an education that encourages learning through play, using open ended resources which develop their critical thinking, use their imagination, and to approach opportunities with curiosity, energy, and enthusiasm.  We develop their confidence to gain the life skills required to transition into school.

We take inspiration from different approaches of paedology to implement a varied range of planning and opportunities that promote independent, confident, enthusiastic learners.

We use The Development Matters document to set out the expectations of development by the end of Foundation Stage (End of Reception).

We aim for the Rising 4’s to:

·         Be secure in leaving a parent or carer

·         Willing to “have a go”

·         Concentrate for an appropriate length of time

·         Showing perseverance

·         Enjoying their own achievements

·         Be confident to access a range of activities

·         Independently go to the toilet and wash hands

·         To follow basic directions from a teacher

·         Ask an adult for support

·         Interact with peers and negotiate their play

·         Sit for a short period of time during an adult led activity.

·         Listen to and enjoy stories

We aim to provide children, with a well-structured, safe, active learning environment both indoors and outdoors. This will enable them to develop the skills, attitudes and understanding that will form the basis of lifelong learning and encourage them to become useful, active members of a diverse and constantly changing society.

Teaching

At Gilah Nursery School we meet the welfare requirements laid down in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. We actively safeguard and promote the welfare of all our children. We recognise that children will learn most effectively when they are healthy, safe, and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. We aim to provide a setting that encompasses a safe and stimulating environment where children are able to enjoy learning and grow in confidence that helps them to achieve their fullest potential. 

We meet the legal requirements for:

·         Safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare

·         Providing suitable adults with appropriate qualifications, training, skills, and knowledge

·         Maintaining records, policies, and procedures for the safe and efficient management of the setting and to meet the needs of the children

·         Planning and organisation to ensure that every child receives an enjoyable and challenging learning and developmental experience

tailored to meet their individual needs

Our style of teaching includes both planned activities which follow the Jewish year, alongside activities tailored to the interests of the children. We use the Jewish festivals to pinpoint the Jewish year alongside the four seasons. We take influence from many different theories of teaching including The Forest School approach, The Curiosity Approach, Nurture, and others that promote learning and support the individual children we have.

We have built the Outdoor Classroom which offers shelter and has resources to enjoy the benefits of being outside in all weathers. The Nurture Room supports the children who benefit from a small quiet environment offering a short time away from the classroom with sensory, SALT and social development focused attention.

Achievement

Gilah children confidently transition into school with the skills required that can support them to enjoy lifelong learning. They do this with the support of our experienced qualified team that focuses on children’s individual needs to create a warm, caring, and nurturing environment. 

 

Dress Code

At Gilah, we love messy play! Whether children are exploring paint, digging in the mud, experimenting with sensory materials or getting stuck into creative activities, we want them to feel free to explore without worrying about getting their clothes dirty.

We don't mind what children wear to nursery, and uniform is completely optional. We simply ask that children come dressed in comfortable, practical clothes that allow them to join in with all our activities without fear of ruining their favourite outfits. Our priority is that children feel comfortable, confident and free to play, explore and discover.

For parents who would like to purchase Gilah uniform, items are available at a reasonable price. Please download the uniform order form and return it to your child's key worker.Facilities

Gilah has spacious facilities, including large classrooms and a modern outdoor playground. We provide play equipment, books and resources that are safe and plentiful, helping all areas children’s learning and development.

Additional Needs

Gilah is an inclusive nursery. We work in partnership with parents and external agencies to meet the needs of each individual child. Hertfordshire’s local offer provides information to parents and carers about the different services that are available within Hertfordshire.  https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/the-hertfordshire-local-offer.aspx

Our specialised Nurture Room is a focused intervention providing resources and experiences to benefit children who may need a small space to express themselves across any area of development. 

We also have an LSA who works with children who may need 1-1 support or small group intervention.

Ofsted

Gilah was last inspected by Ofsted in July 2019. The quality of care and standards of education were described as “Outstanding” and Ofsted rated each area of the provision as “Outstanding” In addition, the report stated that “From the moment that children start at the setting, staff explore and understand their learning needs..” as well as “The quality of teaching is exceptionally strong. Staff take every opportunity to extend and challenge children's learning”.

For more information, please click on the Ofsted logo to read the report.