Learning at Treetops…
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) A new framework for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. Play is vital for children. Quite literally. It’s through play that babies and young children learn, grow and have fun. It helps them understand the world and to develop socially and emotionally. Singing songs, reading together, playing games with letters and numbers, and having fun with friends gives them a head start. It also helps their confidence and helps them become independant.
All children should be able to play and learn in a fun environment with adults who understand and care about them. As parents you should feel confident about leaving your child at Treetops.
From September 2008, every child who goes to an Ofsted registered childcare provider will be able to take advantage of this EYFS approach to learning.
It’s not about introducing a curriculum or making young children read or write before they are ready. It is play based learning where experienced Early Years practitioners move children on to their next steps in development by observing their play, knowing what interests them and providing them with challenges.
It means being sure each individual child is learning through high quality play, that’s tailored to them. So they develop at their own pace, while having fun, making friends and learning. Becoming confident, secure children who, when the time comes are better prepared for school.
How Does EYFS Work? The Early Years Foundation Stage has been developed with parents, carers, early years and childcare providers and academics. It brings together their experience in a clear, straightforward way.
The child is at the centre of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The people working with your child will pick up on their interests and abilities and build on them through play.
They’ll think, for instance, about fun ways to help them develop their language skills. About what will encourage their creativity. About how they will tackle small challenges. All the while, they’ll make sure that each child in their care is getting the support they need, and above all is enjoying and achieving.
It’s the sort of approach that’s already second nature to the staff in Treetops Nurseries.
Partnership with Parents Treetops recognises that you will always be the most important influence in your child’s life. Getting involved and talking to your child’s keyworker or key person at nursery, helps the staff know your child.
It means they can pick up on what you’ve told them about your child and link it to what they do during their time together. And it works both ways – by finding out what’s caught your child’s imagination, at nursery you can build on that at home too. The nursery staff will support you in doing this.
Your Child’s Progress Each child will have an individual file containing their Treetops ‘Learning Journey’ development profile. Your childs ‘Learning Journey’ is available for you to view at any time. It will tell you what your child is learning, how they are developing, what their interests are and how the staff build on these. It will also contain photographs and staff observations.
The nursery will hold regular parent’s evenings to provide you with the opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with his/her keyworker.
It is important to us to understand as much about your child and a typical week in his/her life as possible. For example if a new baby has joined the family at the weekend or your child always spends the weekend at Grandma’s, knowing this will help us understand why your child may be a little more tired than usual on Monday. We can then allow for this and adapt the child’s routine and activities to suit his/her individual needs for that day.
The comments that you make to staff about your child are therefore very important and staff will make a note of these.
Our Learning Tree We also like to celebrate your child’s interests, learning and achievements at home and build on these at nursery. If there is anything you want to tell us then you can make a note of it on our ‘leaves’ which are available in reception and add it to our Treetops Learning Tree.
Keeping Children Safe You can be confident your child will be safe because the Early Years Foundation Stage has safeguards to help ensure every child has a positive experience, surrounded by people who care for them.
We have to meet welfare requirements, and make sure a child develops at the right pace for them. Ofsted will inspect us regularly, so you can rest assured you’re getting the kind of quality care you want for your child.
Find out more This leaflet is just an introduction to the new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
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