EYFS
Our EYFS curriculum is progressively sequenced and planned to acknowledge precise next steps in children’s learning. These next steps are addressed by children’s curiosities and fascinations. Termly topics introduce children to new learning experiences and mini topics are interwoven to acknowledge learning opportunities throughout the year. However, planning is primarily flexible to follow children’s interests and to allow for ownership of learning.
At Garras, we acknowledge the four guiding principles that should shape practice:
Unique Child: Every child is unique and has the potential to be resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured.
Positive Relationships: Children flourish with warm, strong & positive partnerships between all staff and parents/carers. This promotes independence across the EYFS curriculum. Children and practitioners are NOT alone – embrace each community.
Enabling environments: Children learn and develop well in safe and secure environments where routines are established and where adults respond to their individual needs and passions and help them to build upon their learning over time.
Learning and Development: Children develop and learn at different rates. We must be aware of children who need greater support than others.
We also consider the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning:
Playing and exploring: – Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’. Children who actively participate in their own play develop a larger store of information and experiences to draw on which positively supports their learning.
Active learning: – Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties. They are proud of their own achievements. For children to develop into self-regulating, lifelong learners they are required to take ownership, accept challenges, and learn persistence.
Creating and thinking critically: – Children develop their own ideas and make links between these ideas. They think flexibly and rationally, drawing onprevious experiences which help them to solve problems and reach conclusions.