Our Philosophy

We want our children to be happy, fulfilled and motivated and to enjoy the activities in a safe and relaxed environment. The Pre-School promotes the six areas of Early Learning Goals in line with the curriculum guidance for the Foundation stage and 3-5 year olds. We also support under 3’s in their earliest years through “Birth to 3 matters”. Personal, Social & Emotional Development Children have to learn to live as part of a group and to co-operate in the home as well as in outside groups. Here we provide a comfortable and positive environment, where our children can develop their confidence and self-respect at their own pace. Thus, this area is given a high priority, including many opportunities for children to respond to different cultural and religious events. Each child is encouraged to help themselves and others during play as well as during refreshments. Their independence and confidence will grow as they develop within this environment. Stickers are given to the children as a reward to encourage and promote good behaviour including sharing and caring. Communication There are many activities organised to encourage children to recognise their own names and other simple words. The children have many opportunities to become familiar with thinking, language for communication and linking sounds and letters. We take time to enable the children to share their news and to socialise. Emphasis is placed on group discussion, so that the children gain the confidence to express themselves in front of others, as well as learning to listen to the play leader and other children. Relevant topics and stimulating activities help accomplish this. Mathematics We provide opportunities to help the children’s development of concepts and early mathematical skills. With practical activities such as, allocating cups and plates during refreshments, which help to develop an awareness of simple addition and subtraction operations, as well as language such as “add one more” and “take one away". We also play counting & rhyming games with the children. Knowledge & Understanding of the World Our children are encouraged to be aware of the world around them, both in the community and further a field. They have many opportunities to look at differences and changes over time and to record their observations. A day and weather chart is discussed and recorded each day. Science based activities are organised for the older children. Photographic displays are used to record history and the environment, for example, children’s family and homes. Many outside visits are organised throughout the year, e.g. Lydiard Park, the Railway Museum, a building site, the farm and riding stables. Physical Development The Pre-School provides a good range of indoor and outdoor activities to promote Mobility, Control and Fine Motor Skills. Our children spend time outdoors as much as possible, and make use of the playground and school playing field, using bikes, trikes, mini cars, hoops, bats, balls and skipping ropes. The children also have supervised access to Broad Town school’s ‘Timber Trail’. We hold a mini sports day during the summer term each year where the children (and parents) take part in mini races. We also have a small garden area, which has been developed specifically with the children’s needs in mind. Small raised beds are planted with safe/scented plants and the children participate with gardening activities throughout the year. Good manipulative skills are encouraged with small equipment such as art and craft tools and writing implements. Children are also encouraged to make sandwiches and chop food. Creative Development A wide range of materials is available for art and craft activities, such as stenciling, drawing, painting and colouring to promote expression of their ideas and feelings. Children have opportunities to explore different textures such as sand, water and play dough. Their imagination is stimulated by the use of painting, cutting, sticking and constructing their own ideas with cardboard, tubes and plastic containers. Cooking and creating collages provide endless opportunities for the children to express themselves. Imaginative Role Play is also encouraged with the use of dressing-up clothes, the workshop, house, shop and pushchairs and prams. Our children are also encouraged to join in with music, dance stories and action songs.