The Curriculum 

As part of Rainbow’s registration requirements, we work in line with the standards set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) document. Through four over riding principles (a Unique Child, Positive Relationships, Enabling Environments, and Learning and Development) we ensure that each child is treated as an individual and is secure, confident, and happy to learn through play, progressing at their own pace.

 

The characteristics of effective learning and the prime and specific areas of learning and development are all interconnected.

 

The ways in which a child engages with other people and their environment (playing and exploring, active learning and thinking critically) underpin learning and development across all areas. These support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

 

The Prime Areas of Learning

 

These three areas are particularly important for building a foundation, igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships, and thriving. 

 

Personal, social, and emotional

 

development is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives. Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others. Children should be supported to manage emotions, develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals, have confidence in their own abilities, to persist and wait for what they want, and to direct attention as necessary. Through adult modelling and guidance, children will learn how to look after their bodies, including healthy eating, and managing their personal needs independently. Through supported interaction with other children, they learn how to make good friendships, to co-operate, and to resolve conflicts calmly. These attributes provide a secure platform from which children can achieve at school and in later life.

 

Communication and Language

 

The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development. Children’s back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing, and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children’s language effectively. Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes, and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use the embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive. Through support and modelling from their keyperson, and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.

 

Physical Development

 

We provide opportunities for children to play both indoors and outdoors supporting them in developing their core strengths, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination, and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies as well as social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye co-ordination, which is later linked to early literacy. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts, and using small tools, with feedback and support from adults, allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.

 

The specific areas of learning 

 

These grow out of the prime areas and include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society.

 

Literacy

 

It is crucial for children to develop a lifelong love of reading. Reading consists of two key dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Language comprehension begins from birth and develops through rich interactions with adults, including talking about the world around them, sharing and discussing books, enjoying rhymes, poems and songs, and developing vocabulary and knowledge. Skilled word reading is taught later and involves both the speedy decoding of unfamiliar printed words and the fluent recognition of familiar words.

 

A lifelong love of reading begins from birth. Through warm, meaningful interactions with adults, children develop the language, vocabulary, knowledge and understanding they need to become confident readers and writers. Sharing stories, non-fiction books, rhymes, poems and songs helps children make sense of the world, broadens their experiences and provides a strong foundation for literacy.

 

Our approach focuses on four interconnected strands of literacy:

• Books – Sharing a wide range of stories and non-fiction texts helps children develop vocabulary, comprehension, knowledge and a genuine love of reading.
• Environmental print – Noticing signs, labels, logos and other print in everyday environments helps children understand that written language has meaning and purpose.
• Early writing – Children are encouraged to explore mark-making, drawing, letters and early writing as ways of expressing and communicating their ideas, experiences and understanding.
• Oral language – Meaningful conversations, storytelling, singing, rhymes and listening experiences help children develop the vocabulary, communication and comprehension skills that underpin reading and writing

 

Mathematics

 

We provide opportunities for children to develop the necessary building blocks to excel mathematically. Activities promote counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating, problem solving as well as shapes, space, and measures. It is important that children develop positive attitudes and interests in mathematics, look for patterns and relationships, spot connections, “have a go”, talk to adults and peers about what they notice and not be afraid to make mistakes.

 

Understanding the World

 

We provide opportunities for children to explore, find out about people, places, technology, and the environment in order for them to make sense of their physical world and community. A broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems help them to understand our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them.

 

Expressive Arts and Design

 

Through art, music, movement, dance, role play and design and technology we encourage children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials while providing opportunities for them to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities. The frequency, repetition and depth of their experiences are fundamental to their progress in interpreting and appreciating what they hear, respond to and observe.