Everything we do is designed around your child.
We are regulated by Ofsted and as such follow the National Curriculum for under 5’s, known as the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which is designed to ensure all children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe during these vital early years which have been shown to have a major impact on their future life chances. All our children are enabled to develop a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good progress through school and life.
The EYFS has 4 guiding principles which shape everything we do
- Every child is a unique child, constantly learning, resilient, capable, confident, self assured.
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- Children learn and develop well in enabling environments in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between the nursery and parents.
- Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.
The EYFS has seven specific areas of learning and development
Three of these areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning.
Communication and language
We create opportunities for children to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and learning to speak and listen in a range of situations.
Physical development
Encouraging young children to be active and interactive; developing their coordination, control and movement; helping young children understand the importance of physical activity and making healthy eating choices.
Personal social and emotional development
Developing a positive sense of themselves and others; forming positive relationships and developing respect for others; developing social skills and learning how to manage their feelings; understanding appropriate behaviour in groups; having confidence in their own abilities.
There are four further areas of learning
Literacy: reading materials, books, poems games and other written materials to ignite their interest in beginning to read and write.
Mathematics: counting, understanding and using numbers describing basic shapes.
Understanding the world: exploring, observing and finding out about people places technology and the environment.
Expressive arts and design: exploring and playing with a wide range of media and materials sharing thoughts ideas and feelings through activities and art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.
These four “areas” are noticeable in the nursery and preschool as “areas of learning” such as our book corner or science table. We also have different ‘topics’ the children will learn about through a variety of activities such as arts and crafts, junk modelling, role play or construction. There is a classroom planning board which is always on display and will tell you what the current topics are.
Choose what interests you
Our weekly and long-term plans ensure we cover the whole early years curriculum. We determine our play activities based on what your child has already learnt to do as well as their current interests. We extend learning into new areas to ensure children get a broad experience. For example if your toddler loves playing with water we might introduce cups of different sizes practising pouring water into bigger or smaller cups and learn about different sizes, we may then go on to explore sand and how that works when it is wet or dry, perhaps take that outdoors to our big sandpit to explore it on a larger scale, perhaps we will then explore using mud instead of sand and maybe introduce different tools with which to investigate the different materials and then take it into a craft activity examining how mud and water and sand behave on paper with glue and glitter and other materials added in to extend their learning.
We’re always monitoring what each child is enjoying at any time and change our planning in response. Activities feel like fun and are done in a way each individual child will find stimulating. children play at their own pace, choosing to do things they’re interested in and playing alone or with other children as they wish. Our team discreetly support children in their play and encourage them to build their confidence and push new boundaries.
Days include a mix of both planned activities and free playtime choosing from a selection of toys and activities which are changed all the time. We encourage everyone to try activities, our team join in playing and use relevant opportunities to extend learning. Each room has a weekly activity plan on display showing activities that week. Our planning is designed to include all the different areas of learning each day.
Your child's needs, interests and abilities will change as they learn and grow and the activities that we provide for each age and stage of development change with them.
Our key worker system continues all the way through your child’s time at nursery so there will always be a team member observing your child at play and considering their individual needs and stage of development. Their key worker will plan enjoyable activities and ensure they are always moving forwards in their learning and meeting the targets set by the EYFS curriculum.
