Our Curriculum - Nursery & Preschool In West Hill, Dartford, Kent
We follow the official english curriculum of The Early Years Foundations Stage (EYFS). EYFS is a government mandated framework for early years.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum draws inspiration from many approaches and theories of Child Development. The development of early years curriculum has been significantly influenced by the following approaches:
Regio Emilia
At the heart of the approach is a focus on partnership with parents and children being involved in their own learning. The main features are that children need some control over their own play and learning with teachers acting as facilitators. It also recommends that children need to learn from and enjoy being with other children as they learn and express themselves in a rich environment through using of all their senses. This is reflected in our practice through encouragement of Child -Initiated Play and Enabling Environments and emphasis on children learning through play with other children including in a sensory and outdoor environment.
Montessori
The approach stresses the importance of the practitioner as an observer of children supporting learning sensitively through appropriate interventions. The term 'Play with a purpose' is at the heart of Montessori as equipment and resources have specific learning objectives and provide children with graduated challenge. This is reflected in our practice by providing children with independence and challenges to progress their learning according to their stage of development.
Steiner
The Steiner approach emphasises the importance of fostering children's creativity and imagination, their understanding and exploration of the natural world, and the importance of the practitioner as a role model. Manufactured toys are discouraged as these are thought to inhibit child's natural curiosity and imagination. This is reflected in our practice by provision of adult-led and planned activities alongside child initiated play and play with natural objects.
High / Scope
The High/scope approach began in the United States as a way of improving outcomes for disadvantaged children. It is an established model that stresses that children should be involved in decision making and take responsibility. Routines under this approach are considered important so that children gain a sense of security and stability. This is reflected in our practice as we provide for child-initiated play and children's choices and interests are taken into account in planning activities and play. Also routines are an important part of our nursery day that provides children consistency and a sense of stability.
We at The Chapel nursery are firm believers that EYFS under the Statutory Framework in England is truly a blended approach taking inspirations from the best practices around the world and we follow it's recommendations and reflect on our practice under the same.
Our environment and activities are carefully planned to help children flourish and develop. The activities and environment at our setting promote and empower children to be confident and assertive young people.
We believe that early years children cannot be ‘taught’ and will discover through their investigations of their environment. As long as these little investigators are surrounded by interesting things and as long as they feel secure, they will continue to investigate and learn. Their active brains have a lot to process and then at the end of the day they will sleep soundly.
A typical day would include a mix of group activities (like reading a book, singing time, cooking) and child-initiated activities (role play, puzzles, water play). There are routines and activities that help children develop healthy habits, communication, physically, socially, numeracy, literacy and understanding of the world. We strongly believe that a enabling environment supporting and extending children's development and learning alongside good food, happy, and safe environment makes children feel secure to express themselves, explore and grow.
EYFS requires the development focus on seven areas of learning and development with a child driven approach of implementation of learning through play.
EYFS identifies 3 primary areas of a child’s development (physical; personal social & emotional; communication & language) as being crucial in the early years, as they underpin all learning and development. The four specific areas (literacy;mathematics; understanding the world; expressive arts and design) are dependent on the development in the prime areas.
The delivery of the EYFS curriculum is based on carefully planned environment and activities which provide children to develop in these areas. Play is essential for children’s development. Play builds and shapes a child’s brain as it provides the necessary sensory stimulation building the nerve networks that create the architecture of the brain. Observation is at the heart of EYFS and by observing a child at play we can make assessment of a child’s development and plan for additional experiences and support that would enhance and extend the learning experience.
