To create a safe, happy environment supervised by a a dedicated and supportive staff team.
To build positive relationships between children, staff, parents and other agencies.
To foster creativity, innovation, confidence, resilience and independence.
To ensure that every child feels valued, comfortable to discover and express who they are and shows pride in their every achrievement.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. it is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning. There are 7 areas of learning and development, broken down into 3 prime and 4 specific areas.
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Art and Design
We value the importance of child initiated learning. Planning "in the moment" is all about seizing the moment for children to progress in their learning, whilst following their own interests. Based on what the children are already deeply involved in, this way of planning relies on our skilled practitioners to use quality interactions to draw out the children's knowledge and build upon it there and then "in the moment".
We observe children in their play and look out for "teachable moments" which we then act upon in order to ensure children progress.
Provocations spark interest, stimulate thoughts and ideas and encourage questioning. The aim of a learning provocation is to inspire a child to wonder and think. They allow and encourage children to experience the world for themselves through open-ended, hands-on activities that promote talk. Provocations encourage children to think independently while supporting and exploring their own interests as well as introducing them to new ideas.
We follow the IB PYP programme, leading children's inquiries across a number of Transdisciplinary Themes. The EYFS team decide on a Central Idea which is then discussed with the children so that their input, ideas and questions create a unique learning journey, based upon their interests and experiences. In order to respond quickly and effectively to children's curiosities and needs, the teaching cycle of observation, assessment, planning, observation is carried out on a moment-by-moment basis. Staff observations of children at play lead to identification of teaching moments which are acted on immediately, when they have the biggest impact on the child's development. The role of the educator is to take the teaching to the child, supporting or extending their learning. this teaching takes many forms, including communicating and modelling language, showing, explaining, demonstrating, exploring ideas, encouraging, questioning, recalling, providing a narrative for what they are doing, facilitating and setting challenges.