A quality curriculum doesn't come from a box...
It can not be purchased or delivered to your door. It is not pre-cut pumpkins or circles for snowmen. It is not hours of teacher directed activities or forced participation. It is not an end product. It is not rigid, detailed schedules hanging on the wall. It does not mean designer furniture or perfectly landscaped playgrounds. Quality preschool curriculum is much more than that...
It is about engaging in meaningful conversations and everyday experiences. It is developing a relationship with each child and embracing their individuality. It is allowing them to use all of their senses. It is child led and driven by their desire to understand more. It trusts them as capable learners and supports their choices. It is about exploration and freedom of creativity. It allows them to accomplish goals in their own time.
It is about respecting them where they are developmentally. It understands the value of play. It is unhurried and embraced. It is being in the moment. It is taking time to pick the dandelions and dance in mud puddles. It is mixing paint just for the sake of mixing it. It is play dough in their hair and grass stained knees.
Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for learning, development, and care of children from birth to age 5. All schools and Ofsted registered Early Years providers must follow the EYFS. The EYFS describes key characteristics of effective learning, they are:
- Play and exploring - engagement
- Active learning - motivation
- Creative & thinking critically - thinking
There are four key themes in the EYFS...
Enabling Environments
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time.
Learning & Development
Recognise the importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates.
Within the Learning and Development theme there are 7 areas of learning.
The Prime areas are...
- Personal, Social and Emotional development
- Communication and language development
- Physical development
The Specific areas of learning are...
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts & Design
Our curriculum is delivered both indoors and out. We have amazing outdoor spaces where children have opportunities to learn, explore and investigate whatever the weather.
Staff track each individual Child's learning and development and set next steps each term , summative assessments are completed termly.
We use the Famly App to share information and our observations with parents and carers.