Ladybird Preschool Nursery
Nursery Curriculum Map 2026-Autumn 1
Note that this map is a guide only and planning will evolve according to the motivations, interests and curiosity of the children as unique individuals.
We are aspirational for all our children and approach every ‘in the moment’ opportunity with a growth mindset by scaffolding learning opportunities.
| Main Topics | Extra Topics | ||
| Areas of Learning and our continuous learning for this term. | All about me | Autumn, harvest, woodland animals, spiders and mini beasts. | Literacy week for international literacy day 8th Sep Roald Dahl Day 13th Sep Black History Month October International Space week 5th October |
| Texts and rhymes to support learning | Children’s ‘All about me’ The name jar by Yangsook Choi I like myself by Karen Beaumont | Stick man by Julia Donaldson Incy Wincy Spider The very busy spider by Eric Carle Spindarella by Julia Donaldson The oak tree by Julia Donaldson Pumpkin soup by Helen Cooper | My first heroes’ black history bookLook at shortened versions of Charlie and the chocolate factory by Roald DahlExplore a range of factual Space books |
| Communication and Language Explore new vocabulary by exploring unfamiliar words and concepts through stories and activities. Talk about what is happening and give their ideas. | Introduce ourselves- say our name and what we like. ‘Show and tell’ on ‘all about Me’s’ Welcome song- daily Engage in daily shared book reading ‘Show and tell’ about our adventures in the local community during the summer e.g. did we go to the holiday club, the beach or park? How many people are in our family? | Explore new vocabulary by exploring unfamiliar words and concepts through stories and activities. Talk about what’s happening to the change in seasons and give their own ideas. I can tell you about what happens to trees in the Autumn. I can tell you some of our native woodland animals I can tell you the features of a spider and how they weave their webs | Carpet time- Talk about kindness and importance of being kind to others, having kind hands and feet, Sharing and turn taking. Talk about Differences in our communities |
| Personal, Social, Emotional Development Managing our feelings and learning to regulate Managing feelings when separating from parents/carers | Self-identity Being kind- having kind hands and feet Understanding Nursery rules and routines Learning to turn take | Being kind to animals and mini beasts. Collecting a food bank box for harvest festival- talk about how this helps people less fortunate than ourselves. | Being kind- having kind hands and feet Understanding Nursery rules and routines Learning to turn take Understanding feelings- group time reading and looking at the colour monster book. Looking at visuals of facial emotions and relating them to the emotion colours. Beginning to recognise feelings with visual support. |
| Physical Development Daily outdoor activities to progress gross motor skills- running, bike riding, climbing on the climbing frame, ball games Daily fine motor skills with Playdough play, drawing, painting, water play and mud kitchen mixing. | Independent toileting and washing hands Self- dressing- fastening coats and shoes Chalk life sized portraits | Fine motor skills in creative arts and design. Autumn woodland walks- collecting pinecones, sticks and resources for art activities and mud kitchen. Bug scavenger hunt Fine motor skills in cooking and creative arts and design. | |
| Mathematics | Showing awareness of the numbers in the environment Counting objects and begin to recognise the final number as the total quantity Using new vocabulary in mathematical language- Heavy, light, full, empty | Counting bugs on our nature walks Making autumnal soup- Measuring and weighing ingredients. Collecting and counting autumn findings Autumn leaf graph- colour matching leaf findings | Counting- can you catch and count the stars? |
| Literacy Give meaning to marks Mark making with purpose Begin to become familiar with the formation of name/recognising name- Daily self-sign in Begin to form name in writing. Reading a wide range of texts. | Rhyming Baskets- develops phonological awareness and auditory discrimination Texture Letter tracing- builds letter recognition, sound awareness Story stones- encourages sequencing, narrative skills and vocabulary Listening games- listening and attention skills | Read a range of factual space books | |
| Understanding the World | Talk about our adventures in the local community during the summer e.g. did we go to holiday club, the beach or park? What do we like the best in our Nursery Environment our favourite things, activities? (maybe a vote or questionnaire) Talk about people who are significant to us and family traditions e.g. birthdays, celebrations | Harvest- I can tell you what crops grow in Norfolk and what machinery is used, Tractors, combine harvesters etc. Where does our food come from? Farming, Vegetables, berries Healthy eating Fruit and vegetable market- role play Farm small world | Explore space- planets, sun, moon. How do we get to space? (rockets) Role play- Space (Make a large rocket and explore the |
| Creative Arts and Design Using a range of methods and a variety of materials to produce art. Junk modelling Messy play | Self-identity – self-portrait (Picasso) Observe ourselves in mirrors and create representations. Beginning to make note of features such as eyes, nose, mouth. Cutting features from magazines to make collages in the style of Picasso. Create a picture of own house and family Stone Art- create your family with stone placement | Pumpkin carving Create spider web pictures Create autumn leaf prints Painting with autumnal colours- colour mixing Nature wands and crowns Creating Halloween decorations Berry painting Corn on the cob painting | Junk modelling rockets Planet ballon printing Earth suncatchers Painting in the style of Alma Thomas |
