The children will access a wide range of activities throughout their session, there will be a mixture of different types of activities including self-chosen, teacher directed and teacher-led activities both indoors and outside. 

Children will have a mid-session snack of milk or water with a piece of fruit or vegetable. At the end of each session the children will help to tidy up and the session concludes with a shared story, songs and rhymes.

From birth to five, children follow The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. The Foundation Stage is organised into seven areas of learning (3 Prime and 4 Specific).

The 3 Prime areas of learning are:

1. Communication and Language
2. Physical Development
3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The 4 specific areas of learning are:

1. Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Understanding the World
4. Expressive Arts and Design

These seven areas form the basis of our planning, which is topic based, covering several areas of learning within a topic, exploring a range of skills and concepts, rather than dividing the children’s learning into separate curriculum areas.

During all the sessions, staff will be encouraging play, social skills and conversation and they will also be observing, monitoring and assessing the children to plan the best activities to suit their needs.

Communication and Language

We encourage the children to develop their speaking and listening skills by interacting with others, enjoying stories, songs, poems and rhymes and by expressing their feelings and ideas.

The Pre-School provides a language-rich environment, with book corners, writing tables and role-play areas. This is also extended in the outside provision.

Physical Development

Pre-School provides many opportunities for your child to be active and to develop their co-ordination, control and fine and gross motor skills through indoor and outdoor play, P.E. sessions, physical activities, dough discos, dance and Forest School. We also help children to understand how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy.

The children will be able to use the school facilities to take part in games, gymnastics or dance.

P.E. sessions will take place in the school hall and children will do this bare foot.  Please encourage your child to be as independent as possible about dressing and undressing, so they are able to do this themselves by the time they enter Reception.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This is crucial in all aspects of a child’s life and we aim to provide plenty of experiences to develop these vital skills. We encourage children to form positive relationships and develop respect for themselves and others; to learn about the importance of friendships; to co-operate with those around them and to understand appropriate behaviour in groups.

We encourage children to become as independent as possible and not rely on adults to do something for them that they can do themselves.

Literacy

The children’s foundation skills for literacy are laid in Pre-School.   We have lots of activities to encourage the childrens’ love of reading including a reading corner, story focus of the week, print in the environment, early mark making, as well as sharing books and reading.

Mathematics

We will provide the children with practical and enjoyable opportunities, both inside and outdoors. These opportunities will help to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, describing shapes and measures and identifying and making patterns.

Understanding the World

This helps the children to make sense of the physical world around them and their community.

We will provide opportunities for the children to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. They will be encouraged to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question.

Expressive arts and design

We will ensure that children can choose to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials both indoors and outdoors, including mud!  Children are encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.

Outdoor learning

Children learn best from first hand experiences and our outdoor learning space is an opportunity for your child to experience nature and the outdoor environment in a safe, secure, hands-on way. Children go outside in all weathers, so it is crucial that they wear appropriate clothing, especially in the winter.