Early Years
Introduction
At Benedict House, we welcome children into our Pre-School from the term in which they turn three. Our aim is for our children to be happy, engaged and ever curious in order to develop a lifelong love of learning.
We provide an intuitive approach to learning within the Early Years. We pay great attention to a child’s emotional well-being and personal interests; we believe if a child is happy, they are more likely to develop into successful and resilient learners.
Settling in and Transitions
Before your child starts in our Pre-School, families will receive a home visit from their teacher during which they will get to know a little about life at Benedict House.
There will also be the opportunity to visit their new classroom within a short ‘taster’ session. There will be an expectation that children will attend Pre-School for a minimum of 5 (mornings/days a week) to maximise their learning potential.
Daily Routine
The day follows a familiar pattern, starting with phonics, where we teach the Read, Write, Inc scheme. Snack and playtime follow, in which the children are encouraged to be independent by sorting their own snack and putting on their coats. The morning also includes maths and activities based around our termly topics, while also taking opportunities to follow the children’s interests in the form of sustained shared thinking.
After lunch, the children have many more opportunities for exploration and pursuing their favourite artistic activities. The day ends with singing and stories and lots of tired but happy children who are ready to go home to their parents.
The Curriculum
We focus learning around the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which encompasses the following-
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Physical development
- Communication and Language
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive Arts and Design
And so much more.Alongside these areas, we ensure that our provision means children can experience a wide range of fulfilling and exciting activities through their own initiated learning, teacher-led and group work.
Outside the Classroom
Being active and interacting is part and parcel of growing up. In fact, it is essential when it comes to the wellbeing of children. This is why your child will be kept active at Benedict House with plenty of outdoor play and exciting activities to enjoy throughout their time here. Pre-School and Reception also have the opportunity to attend Forest School
Indoor and outdoor play is how children start to make sense of their surroundings so we give them every opportunity to do so. Their time in Early Years will involve games, music and much more. We have grounds and an extensive playground, including a jungle gym and astroturf for your child to enjoy to ensure that they finish the day happy and satisfied, as well as having learnt lots of course!
