About Us: Curriculum & Activities
Learning through play
Our weekly focus and termly themes provide a variety of fun activities to further support the children's learning.
The little extras - this has included looking inside a real ambulance, watching tadpoles turn into frogs, eggs become chicks and caterpillars metamorphose into butterflies - provide wonderful opportunities for children to better understand the world.
Marian holding one of our hatched chicks
The older children also go on a school trip each year, adding a new experience and enough dimension to their understanding of the world.
Effective Learning
As important as what they learn, is how our children learn.
Effective learning is covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2017.
The children enjoying a counting game
There are three characteristics of effective learning according to the framework:
Playing and exploring – engagement:
Includes finding out and exploring; playing with what they know; and being willing to have a go.
Active learning – motivation:
Includes being involved and concentrating; keeping trying; and enjoying achieving what they set out to do.
Creating and thinking critically – thinking:
Includes having their own ideas; making links and choosing to do things.
Areas of Learning
The curriculum for all children aged 0-5 is called The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
This is made up of;
3 Prime Areas, which are fundamental to children’s development, and
4 Specific Areas, which include essential skills and knowledge.
The 3 Prime Areas are:
1. Personal, Social and Emotional
Development
2. Communication and Language
3. Physical Development
The 4 Specific Areas are:
1. Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Understanding the World
4. Expressive Arts and Design
Display Board: The Great Outdoors
For more information on the areas of learning please see our longer paper - SGPS Learning Strategy Appendix.
Additional Activities
Throughout the year we run various additional activities.
Exploring nature at forest school
Nativity
Christmas Party
Cookery
Forest School
Sports Day
Pre-School Trip and Picnic
In addition to the above activities, the older children also take part in various school readiness activities. This includes having PE in the hall, going out into the playground at playtime with the neighbouring school, joining the neighbouring school for lunch in the summer term and visiting them to explore the library.
Visits from teachers from all schools our children will move on to are also welcome and encouraged.