Educational Programme

The Children are seen individually and records of their progress are kept to ensure all members of Staff can offer lessons at the appropriate level for each Child's individual needs.

We like to liaise with other providers so please inform us if your Child attends more than one setting.

We operate the Montessori Method of education alongside a varied programme.

AREAS OF ACTIVITY

PRACTICAL LIFE

Practical life exercises encourage independence through learning to care for oneself, others and the environment and promotes concentration and co-ordination. It establishes the work cycle:- an activity is chosen, completed and returned to its location ready for another Child's use. Certain activities promote the pincer hold and help develop good eye hand control.

PHYSICAL

We aim to offer a range of activities to promote fine and gross motor skills, using our practical life (see above) and climbing, balancing and throwing skills using apparatus. Also, activities to develop spatial awareness and an understanding of physical exercise and personal health.

PERSONAL SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL

Children are encouraged to be interested, excited and motivated to learn. To develop self-confidence. To try new activities and show developing concentration both individually and in small groups. Children are encouraged to speak up at circle time and to listen to others as appropriate. To show kindness, consideration and good manners at all times and to develop independence with regard to personal hygiene. It is also very important to encourage an interest and respect towards the needs, views and cultures of others.

character formation cannot be taught it comes from experience not explanation

COMMUNICATION LANGUAGE AND LITERACY

The Children learn pencil control using our insets for design, these allow them to draw shapes and fill them in using a left to right orientation. This helps them when they start to write letters and words. The Children are introduced to their phonic sounds using letters made of sandpaper. This also allows us to introduce the correct entry points for forming letters. If ready, children may progress onto our various reading boxes and books. We enjoy a varied discussion and listening programme and enjoy poetry with the Children. All Children are encouraged to express themselves and talk, describe and record their interests.

PROBLEM SOLVING, REASONING & NUMERACY

This introduces number quantities and symbols, and then combines them to develop good one-to-one correspondence with numbers, progressing to more complicated number activities as appropriate. Included in our early maths programme are our Montessori sensorial activities, which awaken the mind to the stimuli that are received through the senses. These are then named and include work to introduce colour, shape, size, weight, measure and listening skills.

KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD

We explore and experiment to find out more about science and nature. Look at past and present events that the Children can relate to, this helps promote an interest in history. We also offer varied drama and music activities to encourage free expression. Our Montessori sensorial activities help to develop the five senses.

CREATIVE

Using our sensorial equipment which develops the five senses, we look at colour, texture, shape, form and space in two and three dimension. We offer a varied music programme to encourage Children to sing, clap, use musical instruments and move to music. Children are encouraged to develop skills in art and design through both planned and unplanned activities, using a variety of tools and materials. We use role-play activities to develop imagination and to express themselves through music, dance and story telling.

the child can develop fully by means of experience in his environment. We call such experiences 'work'