Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education provided by Collingham and District Pre-School helps children to continue this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development. Play is essential to all children as the medium through which they learn and develop. Within a structured framework there is opportunity for free play as well as planned activities that encourage and stimulate the children to further their development and their joy of learning.

The curriculum that we provide is set out in a document published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education and Skills, and is called Practise Guidance for the Early Years Founation. The Foundation Stage is a period of education and learning for the 3-5 age group preparing them for the National Curriculum, which begins in Year 1 at primary school.

The guidance divides children’s learning and development into 6 areas:

1. Personal, social and emotional development
2. Communication, language and literacy development
3. Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy
4. Knowledge and understanding of the world
5. Physical development
6. Creative development

For each area, the guidance sets out “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. For each Early Learning Goal, the guidance sets out development matters, which describe the stages through which children are likely to pass as they move to achievement of the goal.

Collingham and District Pre-School uses the “Early Learning Goals” and their stepping stones to help staff trace each child’s progress and to enable them to provide the right programme of activities and the most suitable resources to help all of the children move towards achievement of the early learning goals.

Personal, social and emotional development

Children are supported, within a nurturing environment, to develop confidence, autonomy and self-respect. They are encouraged to work and concentrate independently and also to take part in the life of the group, sharing and co-operating with other children and adults. Through activities, conversation and practical example, they learn acceptable ways to express their own feelings and to have respect for the feelings of others. All children are given the opportunity, as appropriate, to take responsibility for themselves and also for the group, its members and its property.

Communication, language and literacy

In both small and large groups, children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and fluency by talking and listening and by hearing and responding to stories, songs and rhymes. Children are helped to understand that written symbols carry meaning, to be aware of the purposes of writing and, when they are ready, to use drawn and written symbols for themselves. Our well-stocked book corner gives every child the opportunity to enjoy books and they are encouraged to become familiar with books, to handle them and to be aware of their uses, both for reference and as a source of stories and pictures.

Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy

By means of adult-supported practical experience, children become familiar with the sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting activities that form the basis for early mathematics. As they use their developing mathematical understanding to solve practical problems, children are assisted to learn and use the vocabulary of mathematics, identifying objects by shape, position, size, volume and number. Songs, games and picture books help children become aware of number sequences and, when they are ready, to use simple mathematical operations such as adding.

Knowledge and understanding of the world

We make good use of our local environment to help children explore the natural world, learn about people and places and become familiar with their immediate surroundings.

Children are assisted in exploring and understanding their environment both within the group and also in the wider community. They learn to respect other people and expect to be respected for themselves.

A safe and stimulating environment allows children to observe and experiment with a range of natural and manufactured materials. They learn to recognise differences, patterns and similarities, and to share and record their findings. A range of safe and well maintained equipment enables children to extend their technological understanding, using simple tools and techniques as appropriate to achieve their intentions and to solve problems.

Physical development

Outdoor activities contribute towards children’s health, their physical development and their knowledge of the world around them. The children have the opportunity – and are encouraged – to take part in outdoor child-chosen and adult-led activities, as well as those provided in the indoor playroom.

A range of equipment and opportunities, both in- and outdoors, allow children to develop confidence and enjoyment in the use and development of their own body skills. They have opportunities for practising the large movements which we can make with our arms, legs and bodies so that they can run, jump, hop, skip, roll, climb, balance and lift. A very high level of adult supervision enables children to safely create and meet physical challenges, developing increasing skill and control in moving, climbing and balancing. At the same time, children are helped to develop the fine motor skills they will need to use tools, including pens and pencils, and to handle small objects with increasing control and precision. They are also encouraged to develop awareness of their own bodies and of what keeps them healthy.

Creative development

Children are encouraged to use a wide range of resources in order to express their own ideas and feelings and to construct their individual response to experiences in two and three dimensions. Art equipment, including paint, glue, crayons and pencils as well as natural and discarded resources, provide for open-ended exploration of colour, shape and texture and the development of skills in painting, drawing and collage. Children join in with and respond to music and stories, and there are many opportunities for imaginative role play, both individually and as part of a group.