Our Curriculum
We passionately believe in the power of play. The best learning happens when children are able to become fully engaged in what they are doing. This happens most often when children choose what they want to do and how they want to do it. Our ethos is that when children lead the learning, they get the most out of it. Our job as Early Years Educators is to scaffold, support and extend the child's understanding of a range of subjects within their play.
By talking to and playing with young children, following their interests and playing their games, we are joining them in their world, as opposed to forcing the adult world upon them.
Including books in small world areas, encourages a love of reading whilst inspiring a child's imagination. Having scales in the mud kitchen allows children to learn about number and weight in real life situations.
Experienced practitioners who care about and show interest in what the children are doing and saying, builds trust with the child which in turn allows them the freedom to explore their ideas and find out more about what is fascinating them in that moment.
the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum with most of our focus being on embedding the Prime Areas of learning which are:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Physical Development
For very young children, a firm foundation in these areas is essential to success in the Specific Areas.
We do, of course, spend time on the Specific Areas of Learning which are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Outdoor Learning
At Great Doddington Preschool, we are extremely fortunate to have large outdoor spaces which we access throughout the year and in all weathers.
Being outside allows the children to be more physically active, experience the changing seasons, notice how the weather effects them, experience activities on a larger scale, and crucially, get messy. If you can't do it when you're 3, when can you do it?
We provide a wide range of resources which the children can use in different ways, encouraging team work, conversation, planning and imagination. These large loose parts can become an obstacle course, a bobsleigh run, a slide or a tower, they can turn into whatever you want them to be!
