We are now using the new DFES Birth to Three Framework to support our curriculum for children aged between 0-3 years.
We believe that children's experiences in their earliest years are crucial to their subsequent development. Even from birth children are already competent learners with a vast array of rich experiences from which to build. Our 0-3 curriculum aims to value and celebrate babies and children.
We recognise children's individuality, efforts and achievements and plan experiences and activities which are child-centred. Our planning is based upon the 4 aspects taken directly from the Birth to Three DFES Framework. These include:
For those children aged 1-2 and 2-3 plans are centred upon detailed observations and particular themes or topics which are familiar to the children. Practitioners in the baby room use aspects from the Birth to Three Framework alongside detailed observations of the children to extend children's skills and competences.
Children are offered lots of familiar and new play based experiences in which they can explore, make errors, decisions and choices. Practitioners not only observe but share the process of learning, actively involving children and sensitively extending their play.
We encourage children to develop their own independence yet also appreciate that some children may need the support of a dependent adult.
We understand that parents, families and relationships with other people are central to the well being of children. In the nursery practitioners develop close relationships with the children and the children gain self assurance, acceptance and comfort.
1: A Strong Child
Practitioners in the nursery play an essential role in providing a nurturing environment in order for the children to become strong.
We encourage and support decision making, empathise and provide opportunities for children to become strong, capable, confident and self assured.
Our stimulating and well planned nursery environment enables children to get to know themselves and their own capabilities.
The children gain confidence and inner strength as we acknowledge and affirm and achievements are celebrated daily.
2: A Skilful Communicator
'To become skilful communicators babies and children need to be together with a key person and others in warm and loving relationships.'(Birth To Three Matters Framework DFES 2003)
During the nursery day, children and practitioners spend time together in small and larger groups as well as spending time together one to one. Interaction in this way leads to the wider development of social relations.
This include friendships, empathy, sharing emotions and becoming competent language users. We encourage children to find and use a voice through a range of fun and exciting experiences.
For those children who are not yet talking including our babies, practitioners are skilled in using imitation to reward and increase confidence.
Learning about conversation requires listening and responding appropriately. During the course of the nursery day children are involved in many listening activities including group activities where children recall any special activities they have participated in or show and talk about something they are particularly proud of. All children are supported in listening to others and take turns to share their valuable experiences.
We encourage children to talk and/or communicate at all times in what ever way they can. In response the practitioners are able to interpret, respond and value.
3: A Competent Learner
Children are competent learners from birth. Babies only a few hours old are able to distinguish between things, and are able to show that they like some things better than others. As they do so they are beginning to make connections between objects and experiences and so making sense of the world around them.
In order to develop this skill we encourage our babies and toddlers to explore and investigate using all of their senses. We introduce new and familiar experiences, including objects found in and around the home, fruit and vegetables, natural objects, messy materials, toys, sand and water and so on.
As the children gain confidence and develop understanding they are able to re-enact as they play imaginatively with materials.
To enhance the children's learning and imagination, our imaginative bay offers children a vast array of experiences where they are able to engage in pretend play with gestures, actions and feelings. Practitioners enhance the children's skills by sensitively playing alongside or becoming involved.
Very young children love to be creative. You wouldn't believe what our babies have been up to lately. They have played in baths filled with spaghetti, explored mashed potatoes in tubs, made art work using their bodies and that's not to mention the baked bean play.
You should see our toddlers dancing to 'Riverdance'! Its amazing how creativity and imagination allow children to share thoughts, feelings, understandings and identities with others but most of all its FUN!
4: A Healthy Child
Being healthy means much more than having nutritious food and being free from illness. Health and social well-being underpin and determine children's responses to their environment, to people and to new experiences.'(Birth To Three Matters Framework DFES 2003)
Our nursery offers warm and supportive relationships between practitioners and the children in our care.
We encourage children to express feelings of joy, sadness, frustration and fear and teach and discuss strategies to help them cope with and understand why they are experiencing such feelings.
We like to offer a wide choice of activities and experiences for all of our children's physical needs and abilities. We ensure that children regularly engage in activities to develop both gross and fine motor control. In time they are able to make healthy choices as the children learn about their bodies and what they can do.
Plenty of exercise and movement always ensures that children develop a sense of wellbeing which is essential to their successes in all other areas.
