Our curriculum is adapted to meet the children's individual needs. We plan our activities to cover all areas of the Early Years' Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. We ensure the children are given opportunities to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and to introduce their own personal interests. They are given equal access to all activities and we ensure that they counter stereotypes.
The Early Years' Foundation Stage
The Early Years' Foundation Stage is a single framework for the delivery of care, learning and development, for children from birth to 31st August following their 5th birthday (end of the reception year at primary school). The framework is divided into four themes:
A Unique Child:
Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Positive Relationships:
Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.
Enabling Environments:
The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.
Learning and Development:
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.
Areas of Learning and Development
There are six areas of Learning and Development within the framework, which help people who work with children from birth to five observe, plan and assess activities based on their individual development and needs. Each of these areas has Early Learning Goals, which establish expectations for most children to reach by the end of the reception year.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development:
Children are provided with experiences and support, which help them to develop a positive sense of themselves and others, respect for others, social skills and a positive disposition to learn. We ensure support for children's well being to help them to know themselves and what they can do.
Communication, Language and Literacy:
Children's learning and competence in communicating, speaking and listening, being read to and beginning to read and write is supported and extended. They are provided with opportunity and encouragement to use their skills in a range of situations and for a range of purposes, and are supported in developing the confidence and disposition to do so.
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy:
Children are supported in developing their understanding in a broad range of contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk about their developing understanding. They are provided with opportunities to practise and extend their skills in these areas to gain confidence and competence in their use.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Children are supported in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. Their learning is supported through offering opportunities for them to use a range of tools safely, encounter creatures, people, plants and objects in their natural environments and in real-life situations, undertake practical experiments, and work with a range of materials.
Physical Development:
The physical development of children is encouraged through the provision of opportunities for them to be active and interactive and to improve their skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement. They are supported in using all of their senses to learn about the world around them and to make connections between new information and what they already know. They are supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.
Creative Development: