Activities

We provide a wide range of educational and fun activities for the children to choose and take part in. Our aim is to nurture your child's learning, by providing the activities and opportunities for your child to learn through exploration, discovery and problem solving. Children need plenty of first hand experiences and time to develop ideas, skills and concepts through play. The children's experiences or learning may differ from those anticipated, but all learning, planned or unplanned is valid contribution to the child's development. The process is valuable and should not be undermined by an emphasis on planned outcomes. The adult's role is to support and not control the child's learning. Activities are offered but not imposed on the children.

The children will not normally be seperated by age but the activities adapted so that all children gain from activities offered. Some activities will be more suitable for specific stages of development in which case an alternative more suitable for the other stages will be offered.

For our basic provision we have activities such as the play house which becomes various different situations, like a home, building site and post office to name but a few, to encourage imaginative and creative role play. There is water, sand and textured play, play dough, clay and other malleable substances for building on phyiscal and creative skills. We have construction of various sizes and types from Duplo, wooden bricks, to large cardboard boxes for the budding builders.There are quiet times with stories and gentle music, and energetic sessions with music and physical movement. Messy times using paints, glues, arts and crafts for self expession. At present we are developing a new outdoor play area. Our basic provision provides for all aspects of development over the long term and may be different each time it is provided.

For our three to five year olds we use the stepping stones towards the foundation stage to ensure all aspects of development are covered. The aspects are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional
• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Knowledge and Understanding of the world
• Phyiscal
• Creative

Our long term plans (yearly) is based on a broad outline on the subjects or topics we wish to cover. The topics enhance our basic provision and will respond to the children's interest.

Our medium term plan ( 6 weekly) will go into greater depth and detail with aspects of development to be covered and will be drawn up using the children's observational records.

Our short term plans(daily/ weekly) will show the stepping stones that we aim to cover, they will be based on individual and group learning.

The under three's follow the Birth to Three Framework  and covers the aspects of

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

With the broad areas of development:

• Heads up, Lookers and Communicators ( 0 - 8months)
• Sitters, Standers and Explorers ( 8 months - 18 months)
• Movers, Shakers and Players ( 18 months - 24 months)
• Walkers, Talkers and Pretenders ( 24 months - 36 months)

Our plans will follow the same topic areas as for the foundation stage children but will be adapted to the correct developmental stage of the children. The activities and experiences planned for the under 18 months in the Explorers room may be different to those planned for the 18 months to 2 1/2 year olds in the Movers and Grovers room .

Meals

Our meal times not only provide a well balanced healthy diet, but time to join togther and share a happy social experience. Our lunch is freshly cooked on site. We serve a variety of meals from cottage pie, stews, pasta dishes, fish, and vegetarian dishes. Puddings ranges from sponges, jam tarts, fruit pies served with custard to fresh fruit and ice cream. We aim to provide at least 3 of the daily " 5 a day" portions of fruit and vegetables. Drinking water is avaiable at all times.

We serve a variety of snacks at mid morning, which may be fresh or dried fruit, vegetable sticks, savoury crackers, toast, biscuits, along with a choice of drink which will include fresh whole milk. For afternoon snack the children prepare their own sandwiches or savoury crackers, with a choice of fillings, followed by cake or a selection of raw vegetables or fruit again with a drink. Breakfast can be provided for the early starters.

Some times our snacks are linked with our topics to encourage children to try new tastes and foods from different countries. If your child has special dietary requirements then please ask and we do our best to provide a suitable alterative.