Curriculum

Personal, Social and Emotional

Children learn to establish relationships with other children and adults within our setting. They gain a positive approach to new experiences, to care for themselves and others, and to show concern to others. Through practical activities they learn to share, to respect their surroundings and develop a positive approach to learning. Barn Owls also promotes positive attitudes to differences in cultural background, religion, gender, ethnicity, special education.

Communication Language and Literacy

Children are given the opportunity to learn skills in speaking and listening, to use communication, language and literacy in every part of their pre-school curriculum, to experience print in different forms (shopping lists, food packets etc). They are able to experience a wide range of books, both fiction and factual. Activities are provided to develop the fine motor skills needed in early development of drawing and painting. Children are given the opportunity to tell their own stories through pictures and words. They take part in activities promoting rhymes, poems and stories from around the world. Adults within the group listen to the children in one to one, small or large group situations. We provide opportunities for children to see adult writing and for children to experiment with writing by making marks, personal writing, symbols and conventional script.

Mathematical Development

Children can take part in activities that encourage counting, sorting, matching and finding patterns. Through practical activities they learn about numbers, shape and space.

These learning opportunities are provided in stories, song games and imaginative play. Adults ask open ended questions to extend the learning opportunities and encourage the use of appropriate mathematical language. Children are given the opportunity to look at how they can solve them.

Knowledge and understanding of the world

In this part of the curriculum children are learning the skills they will need to develop their understanding for the future in science, design and technology, history, geography and information technology. They will have the opportunity to use an Interactive White Board and develop their skills on a computer. Children are encouraged to use a range of activities both indoors and outdoors, which will help to stimulate children's interest and curiosity. Children can experience activities that support exploration observation, problem solving, prediction, decision making and discussion. Children will be given the opportunity to explore issues of differences in gender, ethnicity, language, religion, and culture. Adults in the group help support the children to communicate and to record their findings in a variety of ways.

Physical Development

Physical development covers developing skills that include co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Children will gain confidence in what they can do and be aware of the physical benefits of being active and healthy. Barn Owls provide physical activities that provide appropriate challenges, both indoors and outdoors. Once a week the children have the opportunity to use the school hall for a P.E lesson, where the children are able to use a range of different equipment. Adults model language to children that describe their activities and actions. Activities cover both fine motor skills and gross motor skills and encourage children to become aware of their own needs in respect of healthy practices and hygiene.

Creative Development

This area of the curriculum includes art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play. Barn Owls provide a stimulating environment giving children the opportunity to explore and develop their ideas and to finish working at these ideas. Children can explore and experiment with materials, using all their senses; this in turn will help children to make connections between different areas of learning.