DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING

I provide a wide range of activities with an emphasis on fun and learning through play. In order to learn, children need to be happy and secure in their surroundings, so I try to provide a relaxed, family environment. In order to promote learning, I encourage plenty of physical play as this stimulates the relevant areas of the brain.

I also encourage plenty of music, rhymes and singing as this is important for mathematical and literacy development. I provide a wide range of planned activities and learning opportunities for children, following their interests and the use of any unplanned opportunities, which may arise unexpectedly.

I plan long term topics which, I would like to cover over the year, taking into account the developmental stages of the children, what they need to achieve next and their individual interests. The medium plan focuses on a six week period of a topic covering targets children may reach in that time and the short term plan is weekly, spending as much time on each activity as is appropriate. I keep developmental records of the children, including photographs, which I share with parents regularly. For 3-4 year olds I provide activities keeping in mind the Early Learning Goals.

These goals cover the six areas of learning:

• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World
• Physical Development
• Creative Development

For the under threes I will be following the programme suggested by the Government for all childcarers – Birth to Three Matters. I will provide a monthly update under the headings:

• The Healthy Child
• The Strong Child
• A Skilful Communicator
• A Competent Learner

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The goals in this area concentrate on dispositions and attitudes, such as confidence, self-esteem, tolerance, respect for others and a sense of personal and social responsibility. They also include self-care and behaviour.

These are achieved with activities such as outings to organised play sessions, group activities, role play, dressing up, cooking, physical play and visits within the community.

Communication, Language and Literacy

These goals include language for communication, thinking, linking sounds and letters, reading, writing and handwriting.

Activities under this heading are: group games and conversation, books, stories and music to promote language, literacy and the development of listening skills, art and crafts for exercising choice and developing hand/eye co-ordination.

Mathematics

Under this heading, activities are concerned with numbers, calculating and shape, space and measure. The aims are to enable the children to problem solve, gain awareness of similarities in size, shape etc. by observation and also becoming confident in the use of number in their everyday play.

These goals are achieved by activities such as puzzles and matching games, sand and water play, which can be used to develop concepts such as volume and capacity, arts, crafts, construction toys, cooking and both number and story books.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

These goals are concerned with exploration, investigation, designing and making skills, information and communication technology, senses of time and place and cultures and beliefs. It is also an aim to promote curiosity and enthusiasm for life.

Activities under this heading include: handling different materials, observing the world around us, using tools and techniques to construct in a variety of ways, using equipment and ICT apparatus. We also go on outings to promote an interest in the world around us.

Physical Development

The goals under this heading concentrate on movement, sense of space, health and bodily awareness and using equipment, tools and materials. The aim is to control and co-ordinate fine and gross motor movements.

Many activities help to promote these skills, such as arts and craft, dressing up, music and movement, construction toys and large play equipment both indoor and outdoor. We try to use the outdoors as much as the weather permits, as there is plenty of space for climbing, sliding, swinging, sand/water play, ball play and riding bikes. There are also trips to playgrounds and woods/parks etc. especially in school holidays.

Creative Development

In this area the goals are concerned with exploring materials, music, imagination, responding to experiences and expressing and communicating ideas. The aims are to create an ability to recall, reflect and represent experience through symbols, drawing, painting, role play, music, dancing etc. and also to think imaginatively and to be creative.