Pre-School
Toby Talls - The Foundation Stage
This is the period of education from age three to five. Children at Horn End tend to complete the first two years at nursery with the third year often being spent in the reception class of a primary school.
During the foundation stage the curriculum is planned around six areas of learning. These are called the Early Learning Goals and are as follows: -
- Personal, Social and Emotional development. This relates to goals, which encourage independence, develop confidence whilst learning to concentrate, take turns and behave in a socially acceptable manner. All our pre-school rooms promote this through daily routines, giving children responsibilities, and by planning large and small group activities where children have to share and take turns.
- Communication, Language and Literacy. This covers communication with others including talking, listening, reading and writing skills. Our Toby Talls rooms feature emergent writing areas and book corners to facilitate this area of learning.
- Mathematical Development. This area develops ideas about number, quantity, measurement, shape and space. Children learn to use and understand mathematical language. There is a wide range of mathematical resources in our Pre-school rooms but in addition maths is constantly reinforced through daily routines.
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World. This covers investigating and beginning to understand things, places and people around them. There is a discovery area inside our Toby Talls room where children are encouraged to investigate a range of both natural and man-made objects. Outside we have minibeast areas, and gardens where children are encouraged to become involved. We regularly plan trips to broaden this age group's knowledge of the world around them.
- Physical Development. In this area of learning, children are learning to improve control and co-ordination of their bodies and developing fine motor skills when handling smaller equipment. Both indoors and outdoors we have equipment aimed at promoting physical development.
- Creative Development. Children learn to communicate through colour, music, shape, texture, movement and stories. All our Toby Talls rooms have messy play areas, easels, sand and water facilities, which are set up every day. Every day we will have story and song times and have a vast
range of musical instruments.
These areas of learning are introduced to children through play and in ways that are suitable for their stage of development.
Such play experiences in nursery will be planned in detail on a daily, weekly and monthly basis and reflect the children's interests.
Hixon - Tel: 01889 271051 : Stafford - Tel: 01785 609699 : Rugeley - Tel: 01889 584400