Learning & Development

Learning through play

Being active and playing supports young children’s learning and development through doing and talking. This is how children learn to think about and understand the world around them.

 

“Play is the highest form of research”  – Albert Einstein 

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Effective Learning

Effective learning is achieved through the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning' as outlined in the EYFS. These include playing and exploring (engagement), active learning (motivation), and creating and thinking critically (thinking).

 

Our goal is to support each child in becoming an effective and motivated learner by observing their learning process and offering appropriate support and resources.

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Assessment

Our leadership and management team conduct cohort meetings that mainly concentrate on our current cohort, their needs, and interests. Our Dinky Dots refer to our babies under two years old, Mini Spots are our two-year-olds, and Polka Dots represent our preschoolers aged 3 and 4. During these meetings, we outline the skills we aim for our children to acquire and the skills we want each group to have before transitioning to the next age group or starting school.

 

We assess our children's learning and growth through regular observations, capturing information through photos and video clips. We utilise Famly, a platform that encourages parental engagement and collaboration. Famly enables parents to participate in daily activities, access detailed observations, interact with their child's learning progression and routines, as well as communicate with the staff team effectively.

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We value parents' feedback and encourage them to share their child's interests and how they support their development at home. Parents can also share their observations on Famly. We provide seasonal reflections to update parents on their children's progress. Additionally, we create transition reports for children moving to new settings or reception class, which we share with parents and their new key person or class teacher.

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Progress check at age two

At the age of two, a progress check is conducted as required by the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This involves creating a written summary of your child's development in the prime areas: personal, social, and emotional development; communication and language development; and physical development. This check is completed by your child's key person using information from ongoing observations on Famly, considering the input from parents and other professionals.