Areas of Learning

Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by Staple pre-school helps children to continue to do this by providing all the children with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development.

For the children between the ages of two and school age, the pre-school provides a curriculum for the foundation stage, set out by the Department for Education and Skills.

This guidance divides children’s learning and development into three prime areas and four specific areas area:

Prime areas

• Personal, social and emotional development:  This involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

• Physical development:  This area of learning will help to develop children’s skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Physical development helps children gain confidence in what they can do enabling them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active. We support your child to develop an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to the snack we provide.

• Communication and language:  Development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Specific areas

• Literacy:   Development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of books and other reading materials to ignite their interest.

• Mathematics:  Children should be provided with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers; and to describe shapes, spaces and measure.

• Understanding the World:  Guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

• Expressive arts and design:  Involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well a providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design technology.