Curriculum Policy

Little Saplings Pre-School curriculum is derived from The Department for children, schools and families’ Early Years Foundation Stage (Every child matters), and is based on 4 themes; A Unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments and Learning and Development.

The foundation stage curriculum is organized into six areas of learning and covers all children from birth to 5 years old. This aims to underpin all future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing children’s:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We support the well being of all children, and in particular the transition to and between settings, promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of the group and community so that a strong self image and self esteem are promoted.  We encourage positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning, in particular an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners.  We promote social skills, by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to cooperate, listen and work harmoniously alongside, and, with each other. We provide activities which enhance attention skills and persistence, giving them the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on a group task.

Communication Language and Literacy Development

We give opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and to each other, to practice and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use and to listen.  We support ‘reading and writing’ by providing opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books.

Problem solving, Reasoning and Numbers

We provide opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of number, calculation, measurement, pattern, shape and space by providing a broad range of contexts on which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practice and talk about.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

With the opportunities and activities we provide, we encourage the children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a variety of contexts, and to explore and find out about their environment and people and places that have significance in their lives.

Physical Development

We support all children to develop and practice their life skills, fine and gross motor skills and to increase their understanding of how their body works and what they need to do to keep healthy and safe.

Creative Development

We provide opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.

Further breakdown detail can be found within the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (May 2008)