Nursery World - EYFS Activities - An A to Z of learning: U is for understanding the world around them

For children, understanding the world around them is about the people, communities, places and environment, says the Rachel Keeling Nursery School team

Children have been engaged in activities including investigating spiders and harvesting food from the allotment

At Rachel Keeling, understanding the world around them begins before children even start school when we visit children and their families to find out a little bit about them and their family: Where are they from? What languages do they speak? What do they like to do? Who lives with them?

We work hard to involve families in the journey ahead, building positive relationships and valuing their contributions. We recognise that families come in so many different and wonderful shapes and sizes, made up of different people. We greet each family with love and openness.

We widen children’s experiences of people: the staff team and their peers. It is really important we support children in learning the names and faces of the new people in their lives. We do this by playing games and reading books together, circle time and small group experiences such as making playdough, painting and parallel play sessions. In addition, the fact children see us welcome their family into nursery each day at drop-off and pick-up time sends out a powerful message.

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