Early Years (Pre School) 2024 - 2025

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE HEADTEACHER INTRO TO CURRICULUM MORNING
SEE FILES BELOW FOR SLIDES AND AUDIO RECORDING OF THE CURRICULUM MORNING MEETING LED BY THE CLASS TEACHER IN SEPTEMBER 2024

Autumn Term 2024

Our Big Question this term is...

What makes me special?

As it is the beginning of a new school year we will be getting to know each other. This term we will be exploring the question what makes me special? The children will be encouraged to think about themselves in terms of similarities and differences to others.  Using the book 'The Colour Monster' we will be exploring emotions and feelings. We will be looking for signs of Autumn, exploring out environment and developing our understanding of the changing seasons. 

Our focused stories this term are: Only One You by Linda Kranz; Owl Babies by Martin Waddell; The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming and The Owl and the Star by Mary Murphy.

To support physical development, the children will be engaging in activities to promote different ways of moving, core strength and balance. 

Resources for Parents

https://www.nhs.uk/start4life/baby/learning-to-talk/3-to-5-years/?WT.mc_ID=PR_Organic#anchor-tabs

https://foundationyears.org.uk/2019/09/resources-for-parents/

https://literacytrust.org.uk/communities/hungry-little-minds/

https://www.pacey.org.uk/parents/home-learning-environment/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/tiny-happy-people

https://www.booktrust.org.uk/

Physical Development - https://www.earlymovers.org.uk/activities

Speech and Language - https://speechandlanguage.org.uk/talking-point/parents/ages-and-stages/

Reading with your child - https://wordsforlife.org.uk/parent-support/reading-your-child/

https://www.booksfortopics.com/booklists/recommended-reads/preschool-nursery/ 

“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up” (Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage - setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. 2021)

At Brookdale, we aim to provide a broad, balanced and relevant curriculum that will enable each child to develop personally, socially, emotionally, physically, creatively and academically to their full potential. Each child is valued as an individual; teaching and learning is rooted in the understanding that children progress at different rates. The curriculum in our Early Years is delivered through a balance of adult-led and child-led learning, meeting all the requirements of the educational programmes in the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and using guidance from non-statutory documents including Development Matters and Birth to Five Matters. Our curriculum allows us the flexibility to respond quickly to children’s new interests and/or needs and create an environment in which they develop independence and learn to play, share, co-operate, explore and investigate through a wide range of rich, varied and imaginative experiences.

Our curriculum encompasses seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected. Three areas especially underpin all learning and thinking, building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity, engagement and enthusiasm, forming relationships and thriving as individuals and part of the school family.
These are called the prime areas:
· Communication and Language
· Physical development
· Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Four additional areas of learning help children to develop skills and knowledge whilst applying the prime areas. These are called the specific areas:
· Literacy
· Mathematics
· Understanding the World
· Expressive Arts and Design

During their time in our Early Years, children access a highly stimulating environment in which to play, learn and grow which reflect the seven areas of learning and foster positive attitudes to thinking and learning. There is daily planned provision both indoors and outdoors where the Early Years team challenge, model, scaffold and support learning carefully, accounting for the individual interests, motivations and needs of all children in our setting.