"Quality care with attention to detail"
Preparatory School provides excellent opportunities for children aged 3 to 5 years to learn through play and develop their independence.
Following the curriculum guidance for the foundation stage developed by the Qualification and Curriculum Authority we aim to meet the diverse needs of all children, to enable them to work towards the early learning goals.
Effective education requires an appropriate curriculum and experienced practitioners who are able to support and extend children's development and learning. The six areas of the curriculum include.
Personal, social and emotional development; is vital for every young child to enable them to progress in all aspects of learning. Practitioners can develop PSE through positive interaction and encouragement and promoting independence. Children are encouraged to embrace differences in religion, gender, disabilities and ethnicity. Time and space is available to children to explore activities and experiences and to develop their own interests.
Communication, language and literacy; promotes the development of several key skills including speaking and listening in a variety of situations; writing, reading and being read to from a variety of texts. To provide the best opportunities for children's communication development we encourage the communication of feelings, ideas and thoughts with children and adults. Sharing stories, songs and rhymes and providing a language as a rich environment of signs, notices and books reinforces the importance of language as a communication tool. Children will develop language through interaction and demonstration from practitioners using such strategies as turn taking, listening, initiating and continuing conversation.
Mathematical development; opportunities emerge throughout our daily experiences in a rich exciting environment. mathematical development includes counting, sorting, numbers, patterns, space, shapes and measure by making connections and identifying relationships in this area. Understanding of this is developed through songs, games, stories and imaginative play. observing numbers and patterns in the environment and participating in first hand experiences, everyday tasks and problem solving enable children to develop an understanding of mathematics.
Knowledge and understanding of the world; promotes children's understanding in the outside world through investigation and acquisition of of skills and knowledge. This area of learning lays the foundation for science, history, geography, ICT and design & technology. Children are given first hand opportunities to observe, explore and question the environment at their own pace and to satisfy their curiosity. Equipment and resources such as books photographs, natural objects and artifacts are readily available to encourage children to make choices and decisions.
Physical development; Encourages the promotion of a healthy and active lifestyle also building on skills such as control, movement, manipulation and co-ordination. Children have a host of opportunities to explore space both indoors and outdoors using a wide range of equipment. Confidence, self esteem and independence grows as children are successful regardless of their ability. physical development forms and integral link to all other areas of development for example the development of fine motor skills enables children the independence to look after themselves by hand washing and pouring drinks.
Creative development; includes are, music, imaginative play, role play and dance. creativity enables the children to link all areas of development to form and extend understanding of their own environment. There are a vast range of opportunities for children to express their ideas and experiences in a form that is meaningful to themselves using all of their senses. A safe encouraging environment and simulating recourses along with the necessary time to develop their creative pursuits ensure children reach their full potential.
Hartford Old School House Prep School ensures that all children are given the opportunities and support to achieve in a stimulating secure environment with experienced practitioners. in preparation for the next stage of their education.
