Educational Goals
The Early Years Foundation Stage
This is a combined curriculum catering for children from 0 - 5 years. It is divided into 6 main learning areas with specific aspects of learning identified within them. All children will develop and progress at their own pace and through the implementation of The Early Years Foundation Stage learning intentions can be tailored to meet the individual needs of all children, an underlying principle of its implementation.
It is designed to offer all children a rich and stimulating environment through a play based learning approach, which provides opportunities for both child, and adult initiated learning experiences; another key element to its implementation.
The Early Years Foundation Stage will be supported across the Nursery with each child having their own assessment documentation to include observations and photographs of how the children are achieving and progressing in their learning and development, which can be shared with you at any time. These create the basis of report writing for the Pre-School aged children.
The 6 identified learning areas are as follows;
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Within a secure and stable environment children are able to develop a clear sense of belonging and are supported in developing skills for confidence, autonomy, respect for themselves and others. They can form relationships with familiar practitioners through the key person approach and develop positive relationships within their peer group. Children are encouraged to express their own thoughts, ideas and feelings as a means to communicating their response to challenging or new situations.
Communication, Language and Literacy
Within this learning area children are encouraged to use communication, speaking and listening in a variety of situations and for a variety of purposes. It supports children in establishing their individuality and personalities. Activities provided can encourage language development including music, dance and songs. Through the development of these skills the foundation for literacy can be firmly put into place. The introduction of Letters and Sounds, an initiative to support this, will enhance these skills through specific adult initiated learning. Interaction with peers creates a language rich environment and through opportunities for mark making, drawing and reading this can be supported.
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
Through child-initiated experiences, children are provided with opportunities to discover and learn simple mathematical ideas and concepts to include sorting, matching, sequencing and counting activities. These form the basis for children to use mathematical language in relation to real life experiences describing shape, size, quantity and position. Children will have the opportunity to solve problems and ask relevant mathematical questions in small group situations, for example, deciding how many cups will be needed for snack time.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Within this learning area children explore and discover the world in which they live through a variety of sources ranging from families and friends and through situations observed. It provides children with opportunities to share in and discover the cultures, beliefs and religions of others valuing their individuality. Children often question how things happen and why things work through the use of construction materials. The use of ICT equipment, computer software, digital cameras, programmable toys and listening centres, learning experiences can be developed.
Physical Development
Physical development is cross-curricular and can be accessed with all areas of learning and development to include both gross and fine motor skills. A range of equipment both indoors and outdoors can support children in developing confidence in their own skills. The equipment will develop children's spatial awareness, co-ordination and balance. It enables them to be positive towards the benefits of being healthy and active and promotes a sense of well-being. Through well planned activities children can develop healthy habits in relation to food and physical activity.
Creative Development
Children are actively encouraged to respond to, and develop, their own ideas and express their creativity through a variety of resources and materials, including crayons, paints, glue, scissors, music and movement, and imaginative props within role play. In being creative children will have the opportunity to respond to experiences through the use of their senses, make choices and informed decisions and to be unique in their learning.