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The Learning Journey

The Learning Journey is a celebration of your child's achievements throughout their time in Pre School and Nursery. It serves as a reminder of the experiences they have had and highlights the discoveries they make. It contains examples of learning, photographs of play and observations made by their keyworker. These enable us to plan effectively in order to meet the children's learning needs and monitor the skills they are developing.

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The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS) is based on the overarching principles that learning and development depend on each unique child having the opportunity to interact in positive relationships within enabling environments.

 

 

A Unique Child

Every child is a competent learner from birth, who can be resilient capable, confidenet and self assured.

Positive Relationships

Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of a loving and secure relationship with parents and or a key person.

Enabling Environments

The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children's play learning and development.

Learning and Development

Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates and all areas of learning and development are of equal importance and are interconnected.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum has seven areas of learning and development, each split into strands of learning. You will see these referred throughout the learning journey. All areas of learning are important and interconnected.

The Prime Areas are;

 

PSED - Personal, Social and Emotional Development

 

PSED is the first of our prime areas, recognised as one of the building blocks of success in life. It supports children’s development by helping them to interact effectively and develop positive attitudes toward themselves and others. This development will also encourage children to manage their feelings healthily and be more confident in themselves and what they do.

 

CL - Communication and Language

 

Communication is the heart of human interaction. During a child's learning journey they will develop the ability to listen to others and respond in a healthy manner. As they grow so will their understanding of language and in turn they will learn to respond with more complex sentences and emotions.

 

PD - Physical Development

 

Physical development is our last area of child development that includes children's physical growth, as well as their increasing ability to control the muscles of their bodies. Children's physical development follows a predictable pattern, but each child grows at his or her own rate. Active play helps children develop their motor skills. We can support children's physical development by providing safe surroundings, good nutrition and plenty of time for active play and exploration.

 

These areas of development are fundamental in the EYFS, helping to support progression in the four other specific areas of learning;​

Literacy

 

Reading and Writing

Mathematics

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Numbers Shapes and Measures

Expressive Arts and Design

 

Exploring and using media and materials.

Being imagivative

Understanding the World

 

People and Communities

The World and Technologies

We will also observe and refer to the Characteristics of Effective learning. These observations relate to how children learn and help us to plan activities and experiences which help them become effective learners.

The Three areas from the EYFS Curriculum are;

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Playing and Exploring (Engagement)

 

Finding Out and Exploring

  • Showing Curiosity 

  • Using Senses to Explore

  • Engaging in open-ended activities

  • Showing particular interest

Playing with what they know

  • Pretending objects are things from their experiences 

  • Representing Experiences 

  • Taking on a role

Being willing to 'Have a go'

  • Initiating experiences 

  • Seeking challenges

  • Taking Risks

  • Demonstrating a 'Can do' attitude

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Active Learning (Motivation)

 

Being involved and Concentrating

  • Maintaining focus

  • Showing high levels of energy

  • Not easily distracted

  • Paying attention to details

Able to Keep Trying

  • Persisting with activities when challenges occur

  • Showing a belief that more effort or a different approach may pay off 

  • Bouncing back after difficulties

Enjoying and achieving what he/she set out to do 

  • Showing satisfaction in meeting own goals

  • Being Proud of his/her accomplishments

  • Enjoys the challenge for their own sake rather than external rewards

 

 

Creating and Thinking Critically (Thinking)

 

Having his/her own Ideas

  • Thinking of Ideas

  • Finding ways to solve problems

  • Finding new ways to do things

Making Links

  • Making links and noticing patterns in their learning

  • Testing their ideas

  • Developing ideas of groups, sequences, cause and effect

Choosing ways to do things

  • Planning, Making decisions about how to approach a task, solve a problem, reach a goal

  • Check how well the activity is going

  • Changing strategy as needed 

  • Reviewing how well an approach has worked.

 

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