The EYFS will help us to build the foundations of children’s learning.
With the guidance set out by the government we will ensure that we provide every child with an environment in which they can thrive.
Children Charity Zimbabwe
The Early Years Foundation Stage
We shall be working towards the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) with all children in the Centre
The EYFS has 4 themes which are:
A Unique Child
Positive Relationships
Enabling Environments
Learning and Development
The Unique Child reaches out to relate to people and things through the Characteristics of Effective Learning, which move through all areas of learning:
Playing and Exploring
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically
The Areas of Learning and Development are then divided into 7 areas, with 3 prime areas which are the key to children’s further development these are:
Personal, Social and Emotional Behavior
Communication and Language
Physical Development
And there are 4 more specific areas which will develop once a child has developed the skills needed from the prime areas these are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive Arts and Design
It is especially important to us that parents or carers feel involved whilst your child is with us at Centre and we encourage parents to tell us about exciting things that they are doing or holidays that they are going on so that we can share the excitement with other children.
Your child will be assigned a Key Person who will build a caring and strong relationship with your child. We also operate a key buddy system. Please speak to your key person for further information about EYFS which is supported by the department of education.
Our Centre uses the aspects from each area of development in the EYFS to help us to track each child’s progress and enable us to provide the right activities to help all children to achieve, progress and reach their full potential. The aspects for each area are:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Making relationships, self-confidence and self-awareness, Managing feelings and behavior.
Communication and Language
Listening and attention, Understanding and Speaking
Physical Development
Moving and handling. Health and self-care.
Literacy
Reading (enjoying books from an early age). Writing (learning to make marks of their own).
Mathematics
Shape, space and measure. Numbers.
Understanding the World
Technology. The world. People and communities.
Expressive Arts and Design
Media and materials. Being imaginative.
Literacy
Reading (enjoying books from an early age). Writing (learning to make marks of their own).
Welfare of the Children
Emphasis is placed on a homely atmosphere particularly in the youngest baby area. The Centre is sensitive to the needs of new parents as well as the child, especially during a potentially difficult settling in period. Good liaison with staff is essential. A key person takes responsibility for new children starting and a bond is encouraged but it is also important for the children’s development and socialization that they respond well to other members of staff.
Transition between the groups
Thought and care is taken with transition between the groups. Short regular visits are made prior to starting in a new area of the Nursery, and children begin to build a bond with their new Key Person. There is a full Transitions Policy available to parents in our Policy and Procedures Folder.
Routines
Each room has their own routine and plan of activities which are displayed for parents.
Sleep
There is provision for all children to rest during the day. Suitable beds and bedding is provided for children to have an afternoon nap every day. For babies under approximately 18 months cots and a separate sleep room is provided.
Meals
Shalom Children’s Centre provides a daily hot lunch, juice, tea and water. All included within the fees. A morning snack is required from home. Children are encouraged to enjoy meal times as social occasions, using good table manners and good behaviour. Older children participate in helping to lay the table and serve their friends. Young babies have a diet appropriate to their specific needs. Teachers will arrange orderly, periodic toilet breaks for our children. Our full-time bathroom assistants help the children and ensures the area is kept clean and dry.