Curriculum Within the group, all children are supported in developing their potential at their own pace.  Our key worker system enables us to tailor our planned curriculum to the needs of each individual child.  By means of developmentally appropriate play activities and a high level of adult input, we offer a curriculum that enables children to progress towards the early learning goals throughout the Foundation Stage and prepares them for the National Curriculum that starts at year 1 in primary school.  Communication, Language and Literacy Children are encouraged to extend their volcabulary and fluency by talking, listening and responding to stories, songs and rhymes.  Children are helped to understand that written symbols carry meaning and, when ready, to use drawn and written symbols for themselves. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Children are individually supported in developing confidence, autonomy, and self respect.  Through activities, conversation and practical example, they learn acceptable ways to express their own feelings and to have respect for the feelings of others. Mathematics By means of adult supported practical experience, children become familiar with the sorting, matching, ordering, sequency and counting activities that form the basis for early maths.  Children are assisted to learn and to use the volabulary of maths, identifying objects by shape, position, size, volume and number and when they are ready, to use simple mathematical operations such as adding.  Knowledge and Understanding of theWorld Children are encouraged to observe and experiment with a range of natural and manufactured materials in and around their environment and wider community.  They learn to recognise differences, patterns and similarities and to share and record their findings.  Physical Development A range of equipment and opportunities, both indoors and out of doors, allows children to develop confidence and enjoyment in the use and development of their own bodily skills (moving, climbing and balancing).  At the same time, children are helped to develop the fine motor skills needed to use tools, including pens and pencils and to handle small objects with increasing control and precision.  They are also encouraged to develop awareness of their own bodies and understand what keeps them healthy.  Creative Development Children can use a wide range of resources in order to express their own ideas and feelings.  Art equipment, including paint, glue, crayons and pencils as well as natural and discarded resources provide for open-ended exploration of colour, shape and texture.  Children love to join in with music and stories, and there are many opportunities for imaginative role-play, both individually and as part of a group.  Key Workers Our staff system gives each member of staff particular responsibility for several children.  Each child in the group has one special adult to relate to, which can settling into the group very much easier.  In addition, the key worker is in a position to tailor the group's curriculum to the unique needs of each individual child.  The key worker maintains links witht the child's home setting, working with parents through shared record keeping to ensure that all children are supported in achieving their full potential.  The Role of Parents Research shows that children learn better when their parents are involved.  We actively encourage parents to help in school at least one session each term.  This gives parents the opportunity to take an active part in the group, to see what happens there and to talk about it afterwards with their child.  In addition, the parent helper system provides a valuable opportunity for all children to see their own parents/carers in a new role.

St Barnabas - Curriculum

Est. 1983