Our Pedagogy
“Play is the work of the child”
Maria Montessori
Learning through play
When children learn through play they are exploring and making sense of their world. Child directed play allows children to follow their interests and learn at their own pace.
Through play children learn how to interact and communicate with others and develop problem solving skills and cognitive skills such as concentration and critical thinking.
Celebrating and supporting children’s play helps promote resilience, emotional regulation and confidence. It’s crucial for child development and the foundation to life-long learning.
Learning Stories
We use 'Learning Stories' to document and assess children’s learning. The story highlights a significant moment for a child, describing their strenghts, interests, exploration and play.
Originating from New Zealand’s Te Whariki curriculum, Learning Stories aim to understand and appreciate children’s lived experiences and the meaning they make of them.
Planning in partnership with parents
Parents and carers are children's first educators and have expert knowledge about their child. Our team are trained in child development and learning. We work in partnership with parents to share knowledge and plan for each childs interests so we can extend their learning through play.
We've recently introduced PLODs (Possible Lines of Direction) which is a tool developed by Pen Green. We discuss children's learning regularlly with parents to help us plan activities to support their learning in the setting and at home.
The Pen Green Loop
The Pen Green Loop best illustrates how we share information with families to support children in our settings.
Pen Green explain that when important adults in a child's life give feedback about what's important to the child, this produces a far deeper understanding of the child's learning and development.
Our Approach
Our teaching and learning methods are rooted in our mission to ‘build brighter futures’ and guided by six fundamental principles:
1. Children at the centre of everything we do
2. Holistic approach
3. Parents as partners
4. Positive relationships
5. Learning together
6. Enabling environment
1. Children at the centre of everything we do
At the heart of our approach is a deep understanding of children. We recognise the uniqueness of every child, and our practice is always child-centered.
2. Holistic approach
Our early years pedagogy is all about seeing your child as a whole, understanding their unique needs, and supporting them in a way that respects their individuality. We consider all aspects of your child’s life and background, and appreciate the impact of their environment on their development and growth.
3. Parents as partners
We believe in the power of collaboration and recognise parents as the primary educators of their children. By working closely with you, we can share insights, learn from each other, and strive together to ensure the best outcomes for your child.
4. Positive relationships
Positive relationships are crucial to children’s outcomes. We foster positive connections with children, families, other organisations and the wider community.
5. Learning together
We view learning as a shared journey where children, families, and practitioners learn together every day. This involves being present, tuning in and celebrating the joy and wonder of the early years.
6. Enabling environment
We strive to create a playful, safe, and child-initiated environment where children can be independent and make choices about their play and learning. We encourage risky play to promote learning across the cirriculum and to help develop confidence and resilience.
Early Years Foundation Stage
We follow the statutory framework of the EYFS which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from 0-5 years.
We also use Development Matters as cirriculum guidance.