Curriculum

Early Years Curriculum

Children from birth develop and learn though interaction with others and exploration of the world around them. Their development is holistic and children’s individuality, efforts and achievements should be recognised, valued and celebrated.

Children will experience a play based curriculum of planned, independent and adult led activities. These experiences may take place indoors and/or outdoors and will aim to develop knowledge, skills and understanding in the following areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Children are helped to mix and form relationships with individuals and groups, playing and learning co-operatively. Children are supported to develop a positive sense of themselves and an awareness of the needs and feelings of others and to manage their own behaviour appropriately

Communication and Language

Children are supported to develop skills in talking and listening and understanding

Physical Development

Young children are supported to develop physical control, co- ordination and manipulation, confidence and ability to move in different ways and handle large and small equipment. Children learn how their bodies work and how to stay active, safe and healthy and manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs.

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Literacy

Children are helped to build skills for reading and writing by learning about text in the environment, having opportunities to develop fine motor skills and learning about sounds and letters. They learn to enjoy and understand stories.

Mathematics

Mathematical understanding is developed through a variety of practical activities based on everyday situations. Children are supported to develop mathematical ideas and use related vocabulary while taking part in a broad range of activities.

Understanding the World

Children are encouraged to be curious, to ask questions, to experiment and solve problems to help them make sense of the

world they live in. A variety of practical experiences build the foundation for future learning about people and communities, the world and technology

Expressive Arts and Design

Children have opportunities to take part in a range of creative experiences. As their imagination develops they have opportunities to communicate and express their ideas and feelings in a number of ways through artwork, music, dance and role play.

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More emphasis will be placed on the first three prime areas during a child’s first three years as these will develop the foundation for learning in the following four areas.

Children naturally participate and enjoy activities they are interested in and are more likely to learn from these. We allow children to make decisions about what they want to do and play with. During these experiences we can give guidance and support and help extend their knowledge, also offering new ideas to expand this play.

We recognise that learning begins at birth and all children develop at different rates and have different needs and expectations. By observing your children we are able to identify these differences, and can provide suitable care, learning, and experiences to enable them to achieve and develop. Skilled and careful observation is the key to helping children learn.

Each child will have an individual learning plan which is based on their likes, capabilities, and next learning goals. We will plan enjoyable, challenging but achievable experiences designed to support the child’s next stages in learning based around their interests and capabilities. Their progress will be monitored, recorded and shared with parents.

Girls and Boys and are allowed equal access to all the toys, resources and equipment that is available in our setting

You as parents can help us in our planning for your children’s learning by giving us as much information as possible, on a regular basis, about their interests, needs, likes and dislikes. This will help us to organise activities that they will be more likely to enjoy, learn and benefit from.