We use the EYFS curriculum considering the individuality of each child based on the child’s needs, talents, abilities and interests.
Needs include safety, security, nourishment, relationships of trust, praise and encouragement, respect and stimulation of curiosity. Talents are innate skills with which a child is born.
Abilities are skills that a child acquires through their own exploration of their environment, through problem solving, through learning by instruction from adults or other children. Interests are areas in which a child demonstrates focus through choice for prolonged periods.
It is possible in looking at the behaviour and focus of a two-year- old to know something about the adult the child will become. Children demonstrate a natural inclination for certain skills, areas of learning and interests. It is important to nourish those appropriately at the same time as encouraging exploration in areas in which a child may not be so confident.
When we focus on these four areas for each child individually, we provide the best possible start in their life-long journey of learning and growing, giving them the best preparation for entrance into their next schools. Whilst working with children we study and review how each child learns. This informs how we work with them; making sure we meet each child’s need.
Although we use the EYFS we have also incorporated certain elements of other philosophies of teaching such as the Montessori Approach. This ensures that our children are given opportunities to Explore | Discover | Learn while introducing them to world culture, in ways they could not achieve in other settings.
We use the excellent basis provided by the Early Years Foundation Stage, and overlay this with our own focus on world culture and activity-based stimulation. We ensure that activities are planned with a deep knowledge of each child as part of their overall development programme.
Our children pursue creative opportunities in a different way to other nurseries or at home. An example is how our children work with the adults to retell the nativity story, sometimes from their own point of view or that of the other characters in the Nativity Story; which they perform in front of an audience of parents and friends.
