The classes follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) Framework covering Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy; Mathematics, Understanding The World and Expressive Arts and Design.
The Nursery takes children from the term after they turn three. There are 16 full time and 20 part time places available. Children enter the Reception classes when they are four. They can come from our own Nursery, other Nurseries or straight from home in September.
We provide an environment that is caring, stimulating and one that fosters children’s independence.
In the EYFS we follow the Department for Education ‘Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework’. This document sets the standards that we must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is based upon four principles: The children in our setting are at the centre of all our work ‘A Unique Child’. The children are surrounded by Positive Relationships (with parents, staff and other key people) and Enabling Environments (both physical and emotional). Learning and Development occurs throughout.
Learning and development
All the seven areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.
- The prime areas:
- communication and language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
- The specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:
- literacy
- mathematics
- understanding the world
- expressive arts and design
- None of these areas can be delivered in isolation from the others. They are equally important and depend on each other. All areas are delivered through a balance of adult led and child initiated activities, both inside and outside.
- The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning run through and underpin all the seven areas of learning and development. They represent processes rather than outcomes and explain how the child demonstrates:
- playing and exploring
- active learning
- creating and thinking critically
Enabling environments
Children have access to a rich and varied learning environment where opportunities give them the confidence to explore and learn in a secure and safe, yet challenging, indoor and outdoor space. For children to have rich and stimulating experiences, the learning environment is well planned and organised. There are areas where the children can be active, or work quietly. The environment is set up in learning areas, where children are able to make their own selection of the activities on offer and locate well organised equipment and resources independently as this encourages them to initiate their own learning.
At Colvestone we have a dedicated Early Years Foundation Stage outdoor area. Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors. It offers the children the opportunity to explore, use their senses and be physically active and exuberant. We plan activities and resources for the children to access outdoors that help the children to develop in all seven areas of learning.
