Our Provision



Visionary Statement:

Elmwood Preschool is a partnership of student, staff, parents and community where family tradition and diversity are embraced. Together we create a nurturing, yet stimulating learning environment, which fosters individuality, social responsibility, and an enthusiastic appetite for learning. we provide a solid foundation upon which children learn to be creative, effective communicators and develop a sense of inner strength and confidence to sustain them in the years ahead.

 

Starting your Journey with Preschool

To make sure your child feels happy and secure with us the staff will work together with the parent/carers to make the settling in period go as smoothly as possible. All members of staff are available should you have any questions or concerns during this time.

Parent/carers are encouraged to take part in this journey with the keyperson by sharing information and contributing with home learning.

We treat all children as individuals and respond accordingly to all their needs, in a friendly, safe environment. We will broaden their horizons, and by their learning through play, we will take them through all the early learning goals.

Please see the role of the keyperson on the information tab.

 

Information for Parents and Carers

EYFS Tapestry Online Journals

We are now using Tapestry Online Journals to record children’s progress and achievements. Work samples and creations will be sent home, but all of their daily observations, photographs and videos will be stored digitally in our new online learning journals!

We have made the decision to move to this secure online system for assessment and record-keeping as it will allow our assessments to be timely and in-depth whilst having the added benefit of excellent opportunities for family involvement in the assessment process. Parent contributions toward and opinions about their child’s learning are invaluable to us and Tapestry will allow us to seamlessly incorporate parent voice into each child’s learning journal.

All children in preschool will have their own account to which parents are given login details to enable them to view their learning journey at their convenience on a computer, tablet or smartphone. Parent account also allow parents to opportunity to share observations and photographs or videos of children’s Home Learning.

If you do not have access to a computer, tablet or smartphone we will keep a Learning Journey Scrapbook

The Learning Journey book will include:

Photographs – These capture moments and sequences of your child’s activity, their interests and explorations. You can add some of your own from home. Sometimes we will write down exactly what your child says about the photographs, so we know your child’s point of view. This is also an accurate recording of language development.

Observations – These are snap shots of significant moments that we notice in your child’s learning. We also make extended observations in greater detail when required.

Your child’s creations – These could be photos of models, photos of their role-play, marks they have made, art-making – with an observation to explain what your child did or said.

Learning Story Episodes – These special detailed observations give snapshots of learning that the children have initiated themselves, and adults go on to think about the learning and how to respond to specifically to the child’s way of thinking and doing things.

 

The EYFS

Schools and early year providers have to follow a structure of learning development and care for children from birth to five years old. This is called the Early Years Foundation Stage. (EYFS) and it enables your child to learn through a range of activities.

The EYFS ensures that children learn through play. Providers work closely with parents and keep parents up to date with their Childs progress. It also ensures the welfare ,learning and all round development of children with different backgrounds and levels of ability including those with special educational needs and abilities

It is split into two main areas which are the Prime areas and the Specific areas

 

Prime Areas

The Prime areas are the ones that are focussed on first. They cover three different areas

Personal Social and Emotional

Physical Development

Communication and Language

 

Specific Areas

The Specific Areas are covered a little later when the Prime areas are well established as they link to the National Curriculum. They are;

Literacy

Mathematics

Understanding the World Expressive

Arts and Design

 

Characteristics of Effective Learning

In planning and guiding children’s activities, we must reflect on the different ways that children learn and reflect these in their practice. These characteristics of effective teaching and learning are.

Playing and Exploring – Children investigate and experience things, playing with what they know and ‘have a go’

Active Learning – Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy what they set out to do.

Creating and Thinking Critically – Having their own ideas, making links and choosing to do things.