Cultural Capital
"Cultural capital is the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for future success.”
At Sherwood Green, we believe in helping children build a strong foundation of knowledge, experiences, and skills that support their growth and learning. This foundation, known as “cultural capital,” includes the knowledge and skills children gather through real-world experiences, interactions, and play. Cultural capital helps children understand the world, communicate effectively, and build curiosity.
What Is Cultural Capital?
Cultural capital is all about the experiences and learning children gain from their surroundings. This includes exploring, trying new things, understanding social behaviours, and building communication skills. By engaging in activities that encourage exploration and discovery, children develop curiosity and confidence.
What Ofsted Says About Cultural Capital
Ofsted, says that cultural capital is “the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for future success.” Ofsted encourages nurseries to create enriching experiences for children, helping them develop a well-rounded understanding of the world around them and supporting their development as they grow.
How We Build Cultural Capital at Sherwood Green Nurseries
We believe children should experience a wide variety of activities, as real-world learning is essential for development. Here’s how we promote cultural capital at Sherwood Green Nurseries:
Creative Arts
We offer opportunities in music, dance, painting, and crafts, allowing children to express themselves, develop creativity, and build confidence.
Outdoor Learning and Gardening
Nature-based play is an important part of our curriculum. Children explore our magical gardens with spaces for planting and gardening, where they learn to care for plants and watch them grow. Outdoor play helps children develop physical strength, curiosity, and an appreciation for the natural world.
Language & Communication
We incorporate Story Times and Rhyme Times into our routine, creating fun opportunities for children to listen, learn, and engage with language.
Story Times
Allow children to explore new words, build their vocabulary, and spark their imaginations. Listening to and discussing stories helps children understand language structure and express their own ideas.
Rhyme Times
Introduce children to rhythm and patterns in language. Through fun and interactive songs and rhymes, children develop early literacy skills and a love for language.
Cultural Celebrations
We introduce children to various cultures by exploring different holidays and festivals. This exposure broadens their view of the world and teaches respect for diversity.
Real-Life Experiences
Cooking Classes
Weekly cooking sessions allow children to explore food, learn basic cooking skills, and understand healthy eating, fostering independence and confidence.
Visits to Local Care Homes
These visits give children meaningful interactions with the elderly, helping build empathy, social skills, and community awareness.
Trips to Libraries and Shops
Outings to libraries and shops allow children to learn about their community, practice communication skills, and gain confidence in new settings.
Mobile Farms at Nurseries
Through mobile farms brought directly to our nurseries, children get the chance to meet and learn about animals, teaching responsibility and nurturing an appreciation for nature.
Real-Life Experiences
Butterfly Growing Experience
Children engage in the process of raising caterpillars into butterflies, observing each stage of growth and learning about the life cycle of these insects. This hands-on experience fosters curiosity about nature and life science.
Chick Hatching Programme
The Chick Hatching Programme allows children to experience the life cycle of chicks first hand, from egg to hatchling. Watching the chicks grow helps teach responsibility, care, and the importance of gentle handling, as well as providing a memorable introduction to animal life cycles.
Yoga Sessions
Regular yoga sessions introduce children to basic mindfulness and movement exercises, supporting their physical development, emotional regulation, and concentration skills in a fun, calming way.
Child-Led Experiences
We continuously plan new activities based on each child’s interests, ensuring learning is engaging, meaningful, and tailored to support their unique development.
Impact of Cultural Capital in Our Nurseries
In our nurseries, we bring learning to life through real experiences every day. Cultural capital is part of our curriculum, providing children with opportunities to explore and understand the world around them. Through activities like cooking classes, visits to care homes, trips to libraries and shops, and hands-on experiences with animals, children learn important skills beyond the classroom. These experiences build their confidence, independence, and curiosity, helping them feel connected to their community.
Our approach helps children develop empathy, social skills, and awareness of others, teaching them to communicate and interact in different settings. By offering cultural capital daily, we support each child’s growth academically, socially, and emotionally, giving them the tools to succeed in various environments.
