The Curiculum
Learning through play: Research has shown that young children learn to think through play, which helps them learn and grow through doing and talking. Play activities that support children’s progress in all of the EYFS learning and development areas are planned and offered in our setting using the practice guide Development Matters. In some of these activities, the children decide how they will use the activity, while in others, an adult helps the children participate.
From the moment they are born, children begin to learn about the world around them. By providing all of the children with engaging activities appropriate for their age and developmental stage, the Pre-School’s care and education enables them to continue doing so. By implementing the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we accomplish this.
From the time a child is born until the end of their first year of school (Reception), they are in the EYFS developmental stage. It is a framework that outlines the various activities we use to support your child’s learning, development, and care. As a result, we are able to ensure that your child reaches their full potential while in our care.
The EYFS Framework explains how and what your child will learn to help them develop in a healthy way. Through seven areas of development, your child will acquire new knowledge, learn new skills, and demonstrate their understanding.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
The learning and activities of your child are planned in these seven areas. The activities will be tailored to your child’s specific requirements by the professionals who teach and support them. This is similar to a curriculum used in primary and secondary schools, but it is appropriate for very young children and designed to be extremely adaptable so that staff can cater to your child’s particular requirements and interests. Children in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) learn through outdoor and indoor play, exploration, and active learning.
We use learning journeys at Stepping Stones to support your child’s learning and development. Learning Journeys are used to gather information on your child’s progress, include photos, artwork, and record achievements. The information is then used to comprehend their requirements and meet them. These records, along with a progress tracker are then shared with you once a term to let you know how your child is doing.