At Little Stars we aim to provide outstanding care for each child.
Every child is unique.
Every child has individual needs.
Every child develops and learns in different ways.
At Little Stars we nurture each child by:-
Leading to enjoyment, fun, praise and success
The progress that children make between birth and five is amazing and leaving your child in the care of others is one of the most difficult choices a parent has to make. It will be our privilege to work in partnership with you to support your child in becoming an independent, happy, confident and enquiring learner, laying a firm foundation for future well-being and success.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, first issued by the department for education and skills in 2007, sets the standards for Learning, Development and Care for children from birth to five. It has been revised over time [most recently in 2012, updated in 2014] and remains the statutory, legal framework for all registered childcare settings, forming the basis of Ofsted inspections.
This framework, and its non-statutory guidance, underpins all aspects of the outstanding practice which we aim to offer at Little Stars Day Nursery. Below are the 4 over-arching principles and aims which shaped the framework and guide each aspect of our care:-
How do we ensure that we meet every standard at Little Stars?
Your Unique Child
Positive Relationships
Enabling Environment
Our rich and varied environment has been established to meet children’s differing needs. Many areas will remain similar during the year, as particularly our very youngest children feel more secure when their environment is constant, but with challenging experiences regularly introduced to add variety and excitement, as well as meeting individual interests.
In our 0-2 year room the ratio of one adult to every three children ensures there is good supervision at all times, as our youngest children have not yet developed their own strategies for avoiding danger. They are safely partitioned from the older children, but still able to see them and join in their activities when appropriate.
Time for relaxation and sleep is balanced with multi-sensory activities, both indoors and in the outdoor play area. One-to-one and small group communication opportunities are a key focus, as would be the case at home, thus supporting language development.
Two separate large rooms and a secure outdoor play area are set up to offer a wide range of imaginative and creative learning opportunities for the 2 – 3 year olds and the 3 – 5 year olds. Learning is largely through play and exploration, with key workers monitoring the progress of each child, so that planning can reflect developing needs.
When your child first comes to Little Stars we are very happy for you to visit the Nursery several times with your child, so that they gradually feel confident to be there without you [and you feel confident to leave them!!]
During the year we also offer workshops and activity days, where you can learn more about our active learning opportunities.
Regular meetings with you ensure that you are kept fully informed about your child’s progress, as well as sharing your own observations.
Learning and Development
Young children learn best when they are actively involved and stimulated.
Interacting with other children, objects, ideas and events allows children to explore and extend their own interests.
When physical and mental challenges are built in and play and creativity is encouraged in a variety of situations, with a variety of resources, connections are made and learning and understanding is extended.
When an adult listens, responds, questions and supports, children’s learning is enriched and enhanced.
These principles underpin all aspects of our planning for learning and development, so that each child is enabled to reach their own full potential. We refer closely to the non-statutory guidance published by the British Association for Early Childhood Education which offers support to all settings in ensuring that they understand how to effectively develop high quality learning experiences. The tables below come from that publication.
Characteristics of Effective Learning | |
Playing and exploring – engagement | Finding out and exploring Playing with what they know Being willing to ‘have a go’ |
Being involved and concentrating – motivation | Being involved and concentrating Keeping trying Enjoying achieving what they set out to do |
Creating and thinking critically – thinking | Having their own ideas Making links Choosing ways to do things |
The Early Years Foundation Stage framework separates areas of learning and development into the Prime Areas and the Specific Areas, as shown below. We believe in holistic learning, where activities build on a child’s current development across a range of these areas. Initially, in the 0 – 2 room, our planning will focus on the Prime Areas, integrating more of the specific areas as appropriate for each child.
Children develop at their own rates, and in their own ways. There are development statements in the non-statutory guidance which suggest a typical range of development, along with how adults can support next steps in learning. Their order is not taken as necessary steps for individual children, but as an overview. For further information please click on the ‘Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)’ link on our website
Area of Learning and Development | |
Personal, Social and Emotional Development | Making relationships Self-confidence and self-awareness Managing feelings and behaviour |
Physical Development | Moving and handling Health and self-care |
Communication and Language | Listening and attention Understanding Speaking |
Specific Areas of Learning | |
Literacy | Reading and writing |
Mathematics | Numbers Shape, space and measures |
Understanding the World | People and communities The world Technology |
Expressive Arts and Design | Exploring and using media and materials Being imaginative |