General Educational Aims
The practice guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage contained in the ‘Outcomes’ document is central to planning for the Pre-School and Kindergarten.   In addition, as some children achieve the Early Learning Goals in Kindergarten they progress onto the whole school curriculum. Activities are planned and the learning environment is organised to promote development in all seven areas of learning (the three prime areas and the four specific areas) in the EYFS Guidance.  The Early Learning Goals establish expectations for all children to work towards, achieve and sometimes exceed by the end of the Foundation Stage.

Further details about the EYFS Curriculum can be found at www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage

Children are encouraged to develop the characteristics of effective learning by giving them opportunities to play and explore, act out experiences and take risks by taking part in unfamiliar activities.  Staff will help children to develop concentration and the ability to complete tasks by praising them for persisting and reaching a satisfactory outcome and by helping them to be proud of their achievements.  Creative and critical thinking will be developed by asking children to make predictions, suggest ideas and by using strategies such as sustained shared thinking.

Pre-School and Kindergarten each have a full-time teacher supported by suitably qualified teaching assistants. A Key Worker system is in place in Pre-School to enable each child to build up a strong relationship with a key member of staff.

Children are assessed regularly both formally and informally and next steps are noted to enable children to progress in their learning.

A successful relationship with parents is the key to any good childcare provision.  From the moment your child enters the Early Years Foundation Stage we aim to develop a close partnership with you so that together we can provide a good quality start to your child’s education.

The Friday ‘Week Ahead’ is emailed to all parents and carers in order to share learning at home. The ‘All About Me’ books which is a key working document cements the children/teacher/parent/carer link.  It is essential parents read this on a weekly basis.

Parents are invited to attend our weekly assembly, when Pre-School, Kindergarten and the Infants come together to celebrate lots of different achievements.  Refreshment are served after the Assembly.

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PRIME AREAS

PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
To encourage children to become independent and confident learners through the promotion of self-confidence and the ability to persevere to complete tasks satisfactorily. To encourage children to form positive relationships with others (staff and peers) and develop an appreciation and respect for others.  To help children to learn to manage their own feelings and to behave in an appropriate way within the learning environment.

COMMUNICATION and LANGUAGE
To help children to develop confidence in speaking in a variety of situations, to listen carefully to others, to learn and use new vocabulary and to express themselves effectively using clear and grammatical language.

PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
To develop children’s co-ordination and control in body movements and to promote a positive attitude towards physical activity and healthy choices in relation to food and to develop children’s fine motor control to enable sound progress in writing, art and other activities which require that level of control.

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SPECIFIC AREAS

LITERACY
To help children to link sounds and letters and develop confidence in the use of language as readers and writers. 

MATHEMATICS
To help children to develop their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to describe shapes, to measure and to describe position. 

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD
To develop children’s awareness of the world around them, their environment, people and features of the natural and man-made world.  Noticing similarities and differences, patterns and change are important.  We will provide opportunities for early science, early technology including ICT, exploring the concept of past and present, exploring the environment.

EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN
Children will be able to express themselves using a variety of media and will gain an appreciation of different aesthetic forms.  Children will be able to use their imagination in play.  Children are encouraged to use a wide range of resources in order to express their own ideas and feelings and to construct their individual response to experience in two and three dimensions.  A variety of art equipment along with a wide choice of resources provides for open-ended exploration of colour, shape and texture and the development of skills in painting, drawing and collage.  We encourage children to join in and respond to music and stories and there are opportunities for imaginative role-play, both individually and as part of a group. Children will receive music and speech and drama lessons from specialist teachers.

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Equality and Diversity
In the EYFS we believe in equality of opportunity and we reject all forms of discrimination and prejudice.  Our objective is to provide a high-quality, caring and socially aware Pre-School and on this basis we will respond to the cultural and religious needs of each child and family.  Equality and respect between individual and groups is an integral part of the curriculum and it is applied across a very broad front.

Through the use of books, photographs artefacts and magazines, the children will be made aware of the society to which they belong.  We ensure that resources reflect a balanced view of all people regardless of their sex, ability, religion or culture.

Liaison and progression into Kindergarten
In the term before the children in Pre-School are due to move up into Kindergarten and those in Kindergarten are due to move up into Transition an integrated programme ensures that those children are familiar with their new teacher.  In this way a smooth transfer can take place. 

Snack and meal times are an important part of the day in Pre-School.

Eating represents a social time for both children and teachers, and helps pupils to learn about the benefits of healthy eating.

Children enjoy a well-balanced healthy diet of fresh food which is prepared on-site by our caterers, Thomas Franks - click here for more details.

We provide three meal times during the School day:

• Mid-morning snack of milk, water and fresh fruit
• Two-course cooked lunch (with vegetarian option available)
• Afternoon snack of milk, water and fresh fruit