Child Development 

AIMS OF The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS)

A child's experience in the early years has a great impact on their future life chances, and so it is vital to provide a safe, secure base, where children can play and learn. Pitta Patta Day Nursery, in-line with the (EYFS), gives each child the best possible start in life. This start will support them in their future learning and development. Our curriculum, which focuses on the individual needs, interests and stage of development of individual children, ensures that activities are enjoyable and challenging and that each child’s needs are met in-line with the EYFS .

The youngest children will focus strongly on the 3 prime areas, which are the basis for successful learning in the other 4 specific areas. The 3 prime areas reflect the key skills and capacities that all children need to develop and learn effectively. 

The Prime areas are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development 
  This involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery, we encourage our children to join in with activities and discussions about feelings, taking turns, listening, making choices throughout the day and becoming independent learners.

• Communication and Language Development 

  This involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations. 

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery we facilitate extended conversations and vocabulary development, along with good listening skills, through introduction of topics as well as informal play.

• Physical Development 
  This involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food. 

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery children experiment with gross-motor activities such as: running, jumping, rolling and skipping and we are fortunate to have a wonderful outside space which the children use daily. Furthermore, we develop fine motor skills through opportunities to thread beads, handle manipulative materials, simple sewing exercises and mark making activities, etc.

The Specific Areas are:

• Literacy Development 
  This involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children have access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. 

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery, fun and stimulating activities include mark making in all areas of the room, such as, shopping lists in the home corner and painting in the garden.

• Mathematics
  This involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers; calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and describing shapes, spaces, and measures. 
  At Pitta Patta day Nursery, the concepts of patterns, shapes, measurements and numbers are developed within a broad range of meaningful contexts.
  
  

• Understanding the World
  This involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. 

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery, children explore natural and manmade materials and find about the world through hands-on experiments, discussions and using technological devices. We also learn about different cultures, religious festivals and Saints Days.

• Expressive Arts and Design 
  This involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology. 

  At Pitta Patta Day Nursery, creative thinking is encouraged and extended across the curriculum and enables the children to learn independently.