Young children require a curriculum which meets their physical, social, emotional and intellectual needs at this particular stage of their development.  They need to be motivated, set challenges and stimulated through play and other experiences to help develop learning.

 

Our curriculum covers the six areas of learning and development:

 

Personal, social and emotional development

This area is all about developing a positive sense of self and respect for others.

 

- Learning to co-operate with others

- Taking turns/sharing

- Building self confidence/independence

- Developing relationships with adults/children

- Expressing emotions through role play

 

Language Development
Children develop confidence and competence in communicating, speaking and listening, listening to stories and beginning to read and write.

 

- Talking and listening in small and large groups

- Hearing and participating in stories and rhymes

- Becoming familiar with books

- Understanding written symbols have meaning

 

Early Mathematical Development

Developing a growing understanding of problem solving and numbers, through stories, songs, games and play.

 

- Sorting, matching, counting and ordering

- Early concept of size and quantity

- Counting rhymes and songs

- Use of mathematical language e.g. heavy, light, full, empty etc

 

The World Around Us

Learning to make sense of the world, finding out about the natural environment, using tools and different materials to make things.

 

- Talking about themselves and their home

- Changes in the weather

- Growing and caring for plants

- People who help in the community

- Become aware of environmental issues e.g. litter, road safety etc

 

Physical development
 

Children will be helped to develop skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement and to understand the importance of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

 

- Large motor skills, climbing frame/music and movement

- Movement with increasing control and co-ordination

- Fine motor skills - using tools/scissors/pencils

- Hand-eye co-ordination

 

The Arts
 

Developing imagination and creativity in art, music, movement, dance, imaginative and role-play activities.

 

- Painting & drawing - using wide variety of materials

- Exploring colours/textures

- Using glue/scissor/large variety of materials for junk art

- Dough and clay

- Dancing and singing

- Imaginative play

 

We greatly encourage parents to become involved in their child's preschool experience and create links with home.  This is achieved through various activies including learning bags, library books and our weekend bears - Bertie and Bella.

 

NB - Parents often express concern about water play during winter.  Don't worry!  The water is heated, the room is warm and aprons are worn.  Any wet trousers or jumpers are changed immediately.  The educational value certainly outweighs a few damp clothes!