Learning and Development

The Early Years Foundation Stage

At St Joseph's Pre-School Unit we recognise how early experiences have a major impact on children's future life chances.

We provide daily activities and experiences to support every child to reach their full potential. The Early Years Foundation Stage standards ensure that the children in our Pre-School Unit learn and develop, and that they are kept healthy and safe.

We provide teaching and learning experiences that build the skills children need for school readiness, and give them a broad range of knowledge to prepare them for future life.

A wide range of activities and resources is available for the children to use freely, both inside the two large classrooms and outside. Children can free flow between the inside and outside areas as they choose during free play, with adults always close by.

The seven areas of learning

Our carefully planned learning environment is set up so that there are always opportunities linked to the seven areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Communication and language development
• Physical development
• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Knowledge and understanding of the world
• Creative arts and design