LEARNING
Across the 1-5 Early Years inclusive provision we recognise that all children develop in different ways. We believe in each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments that encourage their engagement and recognise their strengths. All children have agency and curiosity to learn, we believe in instilling resilience through providing outstanding enabling environments.
At the heart of our Birth to 5 Matters curriculum are three aspects: ‘Playing and exploring’ ‘Active Learning’ and ‘Thinking Creatively and Critically’. We promote positive dispositions by providing living experiences of making choices, innovating, taking responsibility, facing challenge, thinking flexibly and critically, and learning how to learn so that they will be able to respond confidently to their unfolding future.
Prime areas of development consist of three areas – Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Physical Development and Communication and Language. In every experience, we encourage the child to reflect on the feelings they are experiencing and develop a sense of self and others. We ensure they are physically engaged through their senses and movements, and learn to understand and communicate with others.
Specific areas of focus are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. Across the continuous provision rich learning experiences are provided to stimulate language, number sense and enjoy the discovery of the world around them.
At our school, adventure awaits around every corner! Our students are constantly encouraged to explore, discover, and work together to tackle exciting challenges. From constructing in the building area to unleashing creativity in the Design and Technology studio, from experimenting with sand and water to letting imaginations soar in our Creative studio, every space is bursting with opportunities for growth and innovation.
At our school, we ignite a lifelong love for reading. From day one, children dive into storytelling and creativity, crafting tales with pencils, paper, and dramatic play. With caring guidance, they explore language in all its forms, decoding sounds, uncovering meanings, and discovering the joy of communication. In Reception, daily active synthetic phonics sessions lay the foundation for their reading journey.
Effective mathematical experiences are planned for daily. These involve seeking patterns, creating and solving mathematical problems and engaging with stories, songs, games and imaginative play. This strong mathematical foundation is built through playful exploration, apprenticeship and meaning making.
Expressive Arts and Design are fostered daily through many opportunities that foster imagination, curiosity and experimentation. Alongside this the children enjoy focused music sessions once a week with the Music Specialists. These multi sensory sessions are rich in rhyme and tuning into sounds
Embracing the great outdoors is at the heart of what we do. Every day, our students have the opportunity to learn outside, and once a week, we learn in the forest. These forest sessions are carefully designed to not only enrich our curriculum but also to ignite a sense of wonder and curiosity in our students.
In KG and Reception, our young learners embark on exciting journeys into the French language through engaging and playful experiences integrated throughout their daily activities.
Our enabling environment and our highly trained early years practitioners use materials, space, questioning and stories to explore all the aspects of early learning.
Communication and language are at the heart of Early Years. Every day, we create a supportive environment where children can engage in conversations and language activities as part of their everyday play and learning.
Early literacy skills are rooted across our pedagogical approach. Our children are listened to by attentive adults who recognise and value children’s choices.
We prioritise meaningful interactions during play and activities, nurturing communication and language development through modelling, exploration, and encouragement.