Curriculum and Policies

PolkaDots Nursery follows the Early Year Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS)

The main aims and objectives of the EYFS are that:

Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.

Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.

We create an effective learning environment to ensure development by allowing children to have opportunities to:

Play and Explore – children investigate, experience, and ‘have a go’

Active Learning – children concentrate, keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements

Creating and Thinking Critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas and develop strategies for doing things

The EYFS learning and development requirements are informed by the best available evidence on how children learn, and the skills, knowledge and attitudes they will require as foundations for the future.

There are three clear components to this within the EYFS given legal force by The Early Years Foundation Stage (Learning and Development Requirements) Order 2012.

The curriculum covers 3 Prime areas. At PolkaDots Nursery we will provide a wide range of activities, opportunities and learning experiences for children to flourish in all of these areas. The prime areas are those that form our main focus for our 2-3 year-olds

The Prime Areas are as follows:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development as children develop a positive sense of themselves and others and are able to form positive relationships and respect for others; they develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings, they understand appropriate behaviour in groups and have confidence in their own abilities

Physical Development, where children have the opportunity to be active and interactive, to develop coordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and healthy choices in relation to food.

Communication and Language Development, giving children the opportunity to experience a rich language environment, develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and speak and listen in a range of situations.