At Holgate Preschool, children have access to a wide range of toys, games and resources and are encouraged to learn through play. Our practitioners plan interesting activities and set up well thought out learning opportunities so that the children can build on their interests and develop new skills.

Provision is based around the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) curriculum and is split into seven areas of learning: Personal Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Children's develoment is regularly assessed and documented on the Tapestry website - an online learning journal which staff can update instantly and parents and carers can access securely.

At preschool, the children have access to a PC and the internet. When using these, the children are supervised and, as you would expect, we have filters in place to prevent them from accessing anything unsuitable. Please ask to see our E-Safety policy for more information.

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Holgate PreSchool Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact       2022

 

Overall Intent

 

Area of Learning

Communication and Language - The building blocks to success!

PSED - Providing a secure platform from which children can achieve at school and later life.

Physical Development - Vital to children’s all round development#

Literacy - To love and enjoy reading and to be inspired.

Maths - Giving children the skills and acquisition of Maths knowledge that they can apply to real life situations.

Understanding the World - Allowing children to mak sense of the world around them.

Expressive Arts and Design - Developing creativity and self-expression.

Intent Communicatioom & Language

Our intent throughout Holgate PreSchool is that children can communicate their needs, wants and build positive relations with other children and staff. Communication and language is key to future success in all other areas of learning and gives children the best chance at succeeding in Literacy and other areas of learning.

Our Intent PSED  at Holgate PreSchool is that children develop the pre requisite skills and knowledge that they need to settle in, make positive relationships and develop independence and trust. Children follow positive examples and role models and learn to be polite, respectful members of the community. Children learn that it is ok to feel different ways and they learn how to manage their emotions with the support of the team that they know and trust. Children learn that it is ok to be different and respect differences and similarities.

Our intent Physical at Holgate PreSchool is to

develop a child’s strength, coordination and positional awareness through play movement with both objects and adults. By providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness,coordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy

bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye co-

ordination, which is later linked to early literacy.

Our intent in Literacy at Holgate PreSchool is to develop a lifelong love of reading. Children will be exposed to a wide range of fiction and nonfiction literature as well as rhymes and poems. Literacy is used to get children inspired and hooked into their learning through exciting books. We see the importance at this young and crucial age of engaging parents in children’s literacy journeys with us and we offer lending libraries to enhance reading at home. Children are inspired to mark make through exciting activities planned sequentially for progression as the children move through their time with us.

 Mathis ntent at Holgate PreSchool to give children experience in real life situations, and develop the foundation skills and knowledge that children need to tackle problems independently. Children gain a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts and develop the ability to apply this in a range of situations.

Understanding the World intent is that Children are guided to make sense of their physical world around them and communities far and wide. They gain an understanding of diversity and culture and learn to be respectful. They learn about people who help us as well as jobs and vocations in the local community. Children gain a sense of who they are and how they fit into the local Acomb/Holgate community. Children gain an understanding of lifecycles and get hands-on experience with animals. Children explore the natural world and understand changes in seasons through regular trips out and Forest School sessions.

Our Intent in Expressive Arts and Design is to give children the chance to explore a wide range of media and materials. We give children the opportunity to become confident explorers and to express themselves independently and uniquely through the Arts. Children will explore Art from around the world and learn about some well known Artists. They will develop skills that will help them to access the Arts in an independent manner. Children will learn a vast array of songs and rhymes and develop the ability to add their own spin on things!

Implementation

Communication and Language

* Staff interact with the children meaningfully and confidently throughout their days at HPS.

* Morning welcome sessions

* Song sessions

How are you feeling?

* Stories throughout the day

* Snack time - round a table so that children can chat and interact over snack. Adults will sit and encourage talk.

* Sociable lunch times - time to talk and discuss

* Adult focus sessions to develop children's language and vocabulary.

* Wellcomm assessments and interventions

* Sensory opportunities and talk provoking areas of provision.

* Visits from members of the local community

* Trips out to the local community

* Clear communication with parents on how to help their child develop language.

Implement PSED

* Staff priority is to support independence and resilience

* Displays reflect children's achievements and are interactive for identifying feelings

* Class rules are displayed and behaviour expectations are shown and modelled by all staff.

* The layout of the setting and the environment offers many opportunities to build independence and learn responsibility.

* Focus sessions are directed towards PSED related topics.

* Children are well aware of the setting's expectations of behaviour.

* Rules and expectations are displayed in a child friendly manner.

* There is a huge focus on the local community.

* Wider communities are brought in through topics and festivals.

* Staff work with parents to ensure that children become more independent with their self care skills.

 Implememnt Physical

* Children are encouraged at appropriate levels to take next steps in their physical learning by staff.

* Children have access to a wide range of resources outdoors including bikes, large and small construction, scooters and large play mats.

* Children have a lot of outside time to develop crucial skills.

* Dance sessions are timetabled and engaging.

* Indoor soft play develops crucial gross motor skills.

* Malleable play is readily available and changed regularly to keep the children engaged.

* Open ended resources such as scissors, varying size pencils for progression and sticking materials are always available.

* Weekly enriching visits from Rugby Tots take place.

* Healthy eating displays inform parents of setting expectations.

* The setting has a healthy food policy.

Literacy  implementation

* Staff are passionate about reading and this shines through when they choose and read books.

* New vocabulary is explored through stories.

* A planned selection of books; some familiar and some well knows.

* Books relating to different provisions, cultures and languages available throughout the setting.

* The children regularly learn songs, rhymes and poems.

* Progressional resources such as egg shaped pencils for easier holding and varied scissors for ability levels.

* Paintbrushes and outdoor mark making available.

* There are opportunities for children to recreate stories through dress up, imaginative play and small world throughout.

* Displays help the children to learn songs and poems.

Parents share their love of stories by coming in to visit and read books.

Maths implementatio

* Maths is used and embedded by staff throughout the children's days in Nursery.

* Maths is incorporated into the provision areas and staff plan for this and are aware of how it supports children's learning.

* Children learn how Maths is part of everyday life and is useful in many situations.

* Children take part in focus Maths weeks where the time spent on the carpet is focused on Maths problems.

* Numbers and shapes are shown in the environment and through displays.

* Staff incorporate Maths into every opportunity both inside and outside.

* Children’s progress in Maths is monitored closely and shared with parents.

* Children develop the skills and knowledge in the Prime areas of learning that allow them to then be successful in Maths and the Specific area.

 Implementation Understanding the World

* Holgate PreSchool is at the heart of the local community and this is explored through regular trips out and visits.

* Children visit the local church to watch Nativities and tour.

* Children visit local places of interest such as Holgate Windmill.

* Children visit Westbank Park.

* Displays reflect the huge community focus of Holgate PS.

* The Natural world is explored through Forest School sessions.

* The children visit Woodland Adventure to explore the natural environment.

* Children discuss things that they have done in the past such as what they have done in the holidays and special memories to them. Displays reflect children's views and comments.

* Children look at artists from the past and present for inspiration.

* Children are aware of the present moment and use visual timetables as an aid.

Implementation Expressive Arts and Design

* Specific skills and knowledge that children need to succeed in Art are taught through Areas of Provision and focus sessions where needed.

Children are taught to; use scissors, stick in a range of ways, use paint brushes, chunky and thinner crayons, sculpt with a range of materials, printing and pattern making.

* Music and songs are taught with enthusiasm and used regularly.

* Adult focus sessions focus on imaginative story time and drama.

* Welcome songs start everyday off and give children the chance to sing and dance.

* Children practise songs and perform for various occasions throughout the day.

* Open ended resources are readily available for the children to explore.

* Staff expectations allow the resources to be differentiated based on progressional skills.

* Children are inspired by Artists from the past. 

Impact

Children leave Holgate PreSchool as confident speakers who are able to listen to others and contribute to group sessions. Children show respect, follow instructions and routines and articulate their choices and opinions.

At the end of their journey with us, children are confident, social individuals and have good relationships with the staff and other children. They learn to develop independence in controlling their emotions and with the support of staff they develop increasing independence.

Children become confident to explore activities and learn to succeed in their physical journey. They develop the skills needed to support gross and fine motor movements.

Children leave Holgate PreSchool knowing a wide range of stories, rhymes, poems and songs. They are keen to show what they know through reenacting stories and scenarios. They use narratives in role play and small world play.

Children gain the physical skills needed to write. They develop a strong interest in mark making and know that marks contain meaning.

By the end of their journey with us, children have a good understanding of number and mathematical concepts. They are confident to explore and problem solve. They know that Maths can be used in a range of situations.

Children have a wider understanding of their place in the community. They show respect for differences and similarities and know that other cultures and communities are not all the same. Children have explored the natural world and they are confident to speak about it. Children speak about events that have happened in the past and are excited about what tomorrow will bring!

Children leave Holgate PreSchool with a strong interest in being arty and creative. They have their own ideas and have the ability to produce these with increasing independence. They know many songs and rhymes and are passionate about singing these and sharing them with others.

Overall Impact

When children leave Holgate PreSchool, whether that be to start school or a school nursery, they have developed the skills and knowledge they need to be able to adapt and settle into new academic environments. Children are confident to be themselves and try out new things. They say when they need help and they have bult positive attachments with staff which then supports them in transitions and future learning. Each and every child makes huge amounts of progress in their time with us, their confidence, resilience and independence grows immensely.