Our Curriculum
We ensure that every child:
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feels safe within a stimulating environment
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is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children, as well as volunteer helpers
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has the chance to join in with other children and adults to live, play, work and learn together
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is helped to take forward her/his learning and development by being helped to build on what she/he already knows and can do
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has a personal key person who makes sure each child makes satisfying progress
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is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop
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attends a setting in which parents help to shape the service it offers
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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old, informing early years settings of their statutory requirement.
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Our provision reflects the four overarching principles of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (DfE 2023):
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A Unique Child
Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
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Positive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
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Enabling Environments
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between educators, parents and/or carers.
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Learning and Development
Children develop and learn at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
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​The areas of Learning and Development
Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by our settings help children to continue to do this by providing each Unique Child with a safe and secure Enabling Environment with interesting activities and experiences that are appropriate for their age and stage of development.
With the support of Positive Relationships from key adults and strong home-school links we can ensure that all children develop independence while becoming confident, resilient individuals who are ready, not only for transition to school but also to build the foundations for future progress and success throughout life.
There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years settings.
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Prime Areas
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- Communication and Language
Listening, Attention & Understanding, Speaking
- Physical Development
Gross motor skills, Fine motor skills
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Self-regulation, Managing self, Building relationships
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These areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving.
Children will participate in 'Prime Time' with their key person or key person's buddy every session, completing a planned, focused activity which supports their learning and development within the prime areas.
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Specific Areas​
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- Literacy
Comprehension, Word reading, Writing
- Mathematics
Number, Numerical patterns
- Understanding the world
Past & present, People, Culture & Communities, The natural world
- Expressive Arts and Design
Creating with materials, Being imaginative & expressive
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We must also support children in the specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.
All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.
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Learning through play
Being active and playing supports young children’s learning and development through doing and talking. This is how children learn to think about and understand the world around them.
We use the EYFS statutory education programmes to plan and provide opportunities which will help children to make progress in all areas of learning.
This programme is made up of a mixture of activities that children plan and organise for themselves and activities planned and led by educators. Children have free-flow access between the indoor and outdoor environment throughout the session.
Characteristics of Effective Learning
We understand that all children engage with other people and their environment, experiences and activities using different behaviours in order to learn, known as the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These are defined as a key element in the Early Years Foundation Stage about HOW children learn through 3 characteristics:
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Playing and Exploring - Engagement
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Active Learning - Motivation
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Creating and Thinking Critically - Thinking
We know that to learn well, children must approach opportunities with curiosity, energy and enthusiasm. We intend to support for the Characteristics of Effective Learning by observing HOW a child engages with learning to determine the way that we provide meaningful opportunities for Effective Learning for each unique child to remain an effective and motivated learner and use what they have learnt in new situations. These abilities and attitudes of strong learners will support them to learn well and make good progress in all the Areas of Learning and Development.
Assessments
At Sticky Fingers, we recognise the need for a strong partnership between the setting and parents and/or carers to benefit the children to meet their full potential.
We use Tapestry, a secure online learning journal, to record observations, photos and videos of your child's time in the setting and use this information to shape their individual learning journey. This provides families an up-to-date view of their child, their progress and development in line with our statutory duties as a provider.
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Baseline assessments and 2 year progress report
Every child who enrols with us will have a baseline assessment (or 2 year progress report for 2-3 year olds) completed by their key person within their first 6 weeks.
This assessment focuses on your child's strengths and interests and identifies where progress is less than expected within the prime areas. We encourage families to also share this report with their Health Visitor.
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Progress Reports
At the end of the Autumn and Summer term, your child's key person will complete a full written report, reflecting on your child's strengths, developmental levels and needs, including where additional support might be needed.
This report includes your child's 'Next Steps' for each of the 7 areas of the EYFS, with information about how we will support your child to meet these and what you could do at home to support this.
These 'Next Steps' shape the curriculum we deliver for each individual child and influence our planning and activities. When a child meets their 'Next Step' in an area, a new Next Step is identified to ensure that their learning and development is continuous. This information is shared with the family with ideas of how learning can be supported at home.
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Additional Support
Where additional support is required, your child's key person and the setting's Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Co-coordinator (SENDCO) will work with your family to agree on how to support your child, including interventions from outside agencies where appropriate.
See our Assessment, Identification and Support for children with Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) policy for more information.
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Parental Involvement
Research shows that parental involvement and the home learning environment has one of the greatest impacts on a child's development and learning, influencing around 80% of achievement as well as a having positive effects on children's well-being.
We know that parents know their child best and will ask you to contribute to assessment by sharing information about what your child likes to do at home and how you, as parents, are supporting development.
We also understand the importance of continued learning in the home environment
By using Tapestry, families are able to upload their own observations and photos for us to see. Whether this is something your child has done that has made you say WOW, activities they have enjoyed or a family day out, we love to see these!
