Pre-School & Reception
A Broad and Balanced Education - the best of beginnings for a lifetime of learning
The Early Years: 3-5 Years (Pre-school and Reception)
The development of the six essential skills in the Early Years Foundation Stages Curriculum is the basis upon which we begin to inspire the love of learning in our Pre-School and Reception children. Within the happy, relaxed, fun atmosphere of our Early Years Centre, our little Pre-school children learn predominantly through play and are introduced to pre-literacy and pre-numeracy skills. Well-prepared they move to Reception at 4 years of age where the emphasis on the basic skills of literacy and numeracy is taught through the gentle medium of the EYFS curriculum.
Early Years Foundation Stages: Teaching and learning in the Pre-School and Reception is centred upon the essential skills in each of the six learning area of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
- Communications, Knowledge and Understanding
- Creative Development
- Language and Literacy
- Personal, Social, Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
The Salcombe Early Years Centre Environment: We believe in providing a happy, caring, inclusive teaching and learning environment where our little children can begin to grow up to be competent, confident learners and communicators who are secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they are respected and accepted for themselves. So it is very important to us that our Pre-school and Reception environments are warm, welcoming and secure where our children can build the trust and confidence necessary to:
- enjoy positive interactions and reciprocal relationships with the teachers and other children;
- explore more structured learning including beginning literacy and numeracy;
- become actively involved in investigative learning, focussed on finding answers to questions they themselves have posed;
- begin to experience research and independence in learning; and to
- begin to acquire the skills in critical thinking, creativity and working with others.
Daily Life : We invest in creating a learning environment where each child's individuality, strengths and gifts may be nurtured. In this atmosphere of acceptance, affection and respect, our little children learn to love learning through the means of structured play. Less structured play exists within the daily routine through such exciting activities with specialist teachers as music, singing, dance. French lessons begin in Pre-school and our children enjoy weekly visits to the Lower School library and to the Mobile Library also.
To ensure we know each child well and therefore are able to identify those areas requiring further development, our teachers carry out regular observations, assessments and evaluations. These are reflected in their future planning and in the children's individual portfolios. We encourage our children, parents and families to read, comment and contribute to these.
Transition to Reception: The child-centred approach experienced in the Salcombe Pre-school continues seamlessly into Reception. At this stage, whilst more formal teacher-led activities are introduced, child-led initiatives build on pre-existing interests and inspiring enthusiasm and engagement in learning. Children's abilities vary widely at this stage so lessons are differentiated to ensure that all pupils are being appropriately challenged across the curriculum.