Our Curriculum
The teaching and learning of new skills and knowledge is delivered through both adult and child led opportunities both indoors and outdoors, supporting children in every possible way so that they can make the most of opportunities and fulfil their potential along with promoting their independence.
In planning for the children, we consider the different ways in which the children learn. The three characteristics of effective learning are:
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
The seven areas of learning and development within the Early Years Curriculum we focus on are:
Prime areas.
- Personal, social, and emotional development
- Communication and language development
- Physical development
Solid foundations in these enable us to instill the acquisition and development of key skills in the following Specific areas of learning
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
The main focus of the preschool class is on the development of the three prime areas of learning. Establishing key relationships with our children is the first stepping stone to their educational journey and we start this with the focus on attachment play. The key person-child relationships will allow us to learn what interests the children and excites them so we can use this to motivate them and support their learning.
Another key area is on the emphasis on communication and language development. Through books, rhymes, WellComm and songs we work with children to develop their vocabulary, understanding, and listening skills. We use 6 core books for the whole year, two books per term, to focus learning themes, understanding, repetition, story structure and new words. We read 1:1 stories and in larger groups and have introduced and read along bag at home for children to take home. This includes a story, a note pad and a toy, the story is to read with their parents and they can mark make, in the pad provided, about the adventures they have with their toy. This is to encourage parents to read with their children and to encourage children to mark make.
A further key area we will focus on is physical development using both small and large equipment to encourage fine and gross motor skills, with an importance placed on mark making. Children need to be able to experiment with marks from an early age, using a range of resources as well as their body to create marks. There are a range of skills including things like physical skills such as dexterity and co-ordination and cognitive skills like symbolism and the motivation to make marks for a purpose.