Learning through play

Our approach is ‘learning through play’ as this is an essential way for little ones to learn. We all know that every child is an individual and we tailor activities to ensure that your little one flourishes, develops and learns, using both child led and adult led activities.

The children’s learning and development is split into 7 areas as follows:

• Personal, social and emotional development 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.
• 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.
• Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
• 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 reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to
  ignite their interest.
• Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes,
  spaces and measures.
• Understanding the world involves 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 as 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 and technology.

Pre-school

We offer two days per week dedicated to pre-schoolers, that is the older children who will turn four during the academic year and will be starting school the following September. We have a wonderful opportunity to tailor our activities to this specific age range, supporting them as individuals and as a group in their transition to their Reception year at school.

We have very close links with Bredon Hancock’s First School, where most children move on to when they leave us. The Reception Class Teacher will visit Playgroup and the pre-school children will also visit the school on many occasions.

The Playgroup also takes part in other school activities such as Teddy Bears Picnic, school dinners and sports day. We also have our own Woodland Workshop on a Wednesday morning, using a lovely wooded area in the school grounds. This all helps to make the progression to school as smooth and as easy as possible.