Our children:

•  are happy, independent risk takers
•  are confident, resilient and persevere with their learning
•  are excited, motivated and love to learn
• thrive emotionally, physically, academically and creatively
• develop a growth mindset to help them problem-solve and face new challenges

  We believe that play underpins the delivery of EYFS and that children learn best through practical, hands-on experiences and interactions with their environment.  The best outcomes for children’s learning occur when most of the activities within a child’s day is a mixture of:

• Child-initiated play, actively supported by adults
• Focused learning — with adults guiding their learning through rich experiential activities

 Child initiated time provides children with opportunities to consolidate and extend their skills and the concepts learnt.  The outdoor area, including the woodland area, is an essential part of this. 

  We provide children with opportunities to:

• develop their confidence, build new relationships, be part of a group, take turns and be fair
• become strong and independent individuals
• communicate with others as they investigate or solve problems
• explore, develop and have learning experiences that help them to make sense of the world
• take risks, make and learn from theirs and others’ mistakes     
• practise and build upon ideas, concepts and skills                      

                    

 Learning and development                                                       

 There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape the educational provision in the early years settings.

 All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are   particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

                    

 Prime Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

Staff will also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

 Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Knowledge of the world
• Expressive arts and design

 Within any group of 4 and 5-year-olds there will be a huge variation in development.  For this reason, it is vital that we meet individual needs and that the activities provided for each child will be different.  

    

 Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning

 The characteristics of effective teaching and learning underpin achievement of the prime and  specific areas of learning. They represent processes rather than outcomes and allow us to understand how a child learns.                                                           

 The characteristics are:

 Playing and Exploring

 Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.

 Active Learning

 Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements.

 Creating and Thinking Critically

 Children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.