Children's development and learning
We aim to ensure that each child:
is in a safe and stimulating environment;
is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children;
has the chance to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together;
is helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being helped to build on what she
/he already knows and can do;
has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfying progress;
is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop; and
is in a setting in which parents help to shape the service it offers. The Early Years Foundation Stage
Provision for the development and learning of children from birth to 5 years is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage. Our provision reflects the four overarching principles of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE 2012):
A Unique Child
Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships. Enabling Environments
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners, parents and carers. Learning and Development
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision including children with special educational needs and disabilities. How we provide for development and learning
Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by our setting helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development. The Areas of Development and Learning comprise:
Prime Areas
- Personal, social and emotional development.
- Physical development.
- Communication and language. Specific Areas
- Literacy.
- Mathematics.
- Understanding the world.
- Expressive arts and design. For each area, the level of progress that children are expected to have attained by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage is defined by the Early Learning Goals. These goals state what it is expected that children will know, and be able to do, by the end of the reception year of their education. The Early Years Outcomes (DfE 2013) guidance sets out the likely stages of progress a child makes along their progress towards the Early Learning Goals. Our setting has regard to these when we assess children and plan for their learning. Our programme supports children to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding they need for:
Personal, social and emotional development
making relationships;
self-confidence and self-awareness; and
managing feelings and behaviour. Physical development
moving and handling; and
health and self-care. Communication and language
listening and attention;
understanding; and
speaking. Mathematics
numbers; and
shape, space and measure. Understanding the world
people and communities;
the world; and
technology. Expressive arts and design
exploring and using media and materials; and
being imaginative.
