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 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.

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.

If you have any further questions please call the Centre on +263 786 253 370 or email us on info@shalomchildrenscentre.co.zw