The Early Years department at Elleray Park follow the Eyfs curriculum which is based upon the Development Matters document. The children's progress is recorded in incremental steps that they achieve as they develop through age bands from 0-12 months to 40-60 months and where applicable, the early learning goals.

The curriculum is based on the 7 areas of learning which fall within two categories - Prime and Specific.

The prime areas are -

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The specific areas are -

• Literacy - Reading and Writing
• Mathematics - Number and Shape, Space and Measure
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

In order for learning to take place we have to embed Attention, Engagement and Enjoyment. At Elleray Park we use a range of strategies to support children's access into learning -

• Attention Autism
• Intensive Interaction
• SCERTS
• Pre-skills for Learning

Our Curriculum includes -

• Invitations to play - adult led
• Exploratory play/messy play
• Fine motor skills development
• Turn taking
• Early routines
• Developing relationships
• Nurture
• Self-help skills
• Child led learning
• Shared/joint attention
• Engagement
• Understanding instructions
• Sensory circuits/physical starts

Learning through play

Children's play activities are specific to the children and are skill based, ensuring their learning continues throughout.

Enhancements are built into each area of learning to promote skills and thinking. These can be linked to a topic or specific skill and are designed to challenge the children in the play areas.

Some of the play areas that we use are - blocks/construction, malleable, sand water, small world, fine motor, writing, computer/smart board, role play, paint, maths, outdoor provision and book area. Although they are always available in class, they are rotated periodically.

We promote turn taking/sharing skills, exploration of new materials and tolerating parallel play with others.

Outdoor Play

Why is outdoor play so important?

• Developing PSED skills
• Developing self confidence
• Developing physical strength and co-ordination
• Developing a healthy attitude to the outdoors
• Encouraging independence
• Taking responsibility and making choices for autonomous learning
• Enabling risk taking
• Increasing awareness of the natural world
• Developing creativity
• Sensory and tactile experiences
• Providing sensory input

Our curriculum is child centered and specific to each child's needs, abilities and interests. Much of our learning is experiential, sensory and hands on which ensures we are fully involved and engaged. We work hard on developing concentration skills and developing attention from starting school to provide our children with the skills for life that they will need to make great progress on their individual journeys throughout school.