Activities, Themes, and The Early Years Foundation Stage
Gosling’s aim is for each child to be given opportunities to achieve their potential across all areas of development by providing a safe and secure environment where children can explore, investigate, plan and learn.
Activities
We are very fond of making a mess! Printing, sticking and painting are all great favourites and children enjoy physical activities like running, jumping, climbing, and using large equipment outside in the play area.
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Children are encouraged to experience the activities without concern about getting messy.
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Children are encouraged to gain the skills that help them become independent, including using the toilet by themselves and taking off and putting on outdoor clothing.
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Children’s birthdays are celebrated and parents or carers are invited to contribute biscuits, cakes, or homemade items to make it a fun-filled special occasion.
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Snack times are planned to encourage children to develop good eating habits and to engage in conversation.
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Children are encouraged to develop a good understanding of the importance of washing their hands, healthy eating, and playing safely.
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By helping children develop skills in working together and by helping each other clear away equipment, we increase their understanding of their contribution to the community
Clothing, footwear and food guidelines are included within a Welcome Pack that is given to parents and carers of new starters.
Goslings Playgroup T-Shirts and Sweatshirts are available to purchase and are very popular with parents and carers.
Themes
Fun and interesting activities are organised around a weekly theme that is matched closely to the Early Years Foundation Stage guidelines.
Examples of themes include:
Free Choice, Winter, Clothes, Chinese New Year, Painting Techniques, Counting, Farm Animals, Spring, Food, Colours, St Patrick’s Day, Mothers Day, Collage and Easter.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships, and thrive.
These three areas, the prime areas, are:
Communication and Language Development
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.
Physical Development
Involves providing opportunities for young children to be active 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.
Personal, Social and Emotional
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.
There is also support for children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.
The specific areas are:
Literacy
Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems and other written materials) and are also read to with the aim of fostering an interest and enjoyment in books and stories. They are given activities to develop skills needed to begin handwriting.
Mathematics
Children are encouraged to show an interest in numbers and counting, use mathematical and positional language to make comparisons and develop an awareness of shape space and measures.
Understanding of the World
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.
Expressive arts and design
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.
Goslings Playgroup aims for each child to be given the opportunities to achieve their potential across all areas of development by providing a safe and secure environment where children can explore, investigate, play and learn.
Contact us for further information, to book a visit, or to apply.