Curriculum

The Pre-School follows the Early Years Foundation Stage which is set by the Department of Education and Skills. The four themes of the EYFS are 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 learn and develop in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and inter-connected.

The seven areas of Learning and Development, three Prime Areas and four Specific Areas.  The areas of learning are:-

Prime Areas

§  Personal, Social and Emotional Development

  Learning to make friends, enjoy being part of a group, sharing feelings and learning to do things for themselves.

§  Physical Development

  Finding out about their body and how to use and control it

§  Communication and Language

  Talking and listening to others, enjoying stories and books and learning ways of sharing thoughts and feelings with others. 

Specific Areas

§  Literacy

  Learning to read and write

§  Mathematics

   Learning to count, share and compare and to see shapes and patterns around them. 

§  Understanding of the World

   Learning to see themselves as part of a bigger world and finding out what they can do as part of that world. Using computers and the local environment to extend their learning

§  Expressive Arts and Design

   Exploring and using colour, different media and materials.  Exploring songs, sounds and movements.  Construct using various construction materials.

The children learn through planned and free play activities, which cover all of these areas of learning over the course of a week or term. If you require any further information regarding the Early Years Foundation Stage please talk to a member of staff as they have information packs and leaflets which may help.

PLANNING

The planning is usually based around a theme or topic, which is chosen after evaluating what the majority of children know and need to know next and what the children are interested in.  Each member of staff works in a designated area of the classroom over a week.  They may be working with individuals, small groups, making observations/assessments or carrying out planned activities.  The team meets every week to talk about the areas and plan activities for the following week. Each key person will also discuss the learning stories and the next steps for each individual child.