The Curriculum

Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born.  The care and education offered by the playgroup helps children to continue to do this by providing them with interesting activities that are right for their age and stage of development.

For children between the ages of 3 and 5 years, we provide a curriculum for the foundation stage of education that is set out in a document called ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’ published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the Department for Education and Skills.  Playgroup follows this guidance.

The guidance divides children’s learning and development into six areas:

For each area, the guidance sets out early learning goals. These goals state what it is expected that children will know and be able to do by the end of the reception year of their education.

PlaygroupFor each early learning goal, the guidance sets out stepping stones, which describe the stages through which children are likely to pass as they move to achievement of the goal.   We use the early learning goals and their stepping stones to help us to trace a child’s progress and to enable us to provide the right activities for your child.  Playgroup achieves each child’s movement towards these early learning goals with an emphasis on learning through play.

To ensure that what the Playgroup provides is right for your child’s particular needs and interests, we operate a key worker system.  This means that each member of staff has a group of children for whom she/he is particularly responsible.  When your child first starts she/he will help your child to settle and will work together with you to help your child to benefit from our activities throughout their time at Playgroup.