Are you about to register your little one for a nursery space but aren’t sure what to expect?
Or maybe you’re already registered but are unsure about what we do in the nursery or how your little one is learning?
Over 5 weeks, we are doing a deep dive into everything you need to know about the EYFS, development matters and more to help you better understand our nursery’s curriculum!
In this part, we will cover the importance of the parent/nursery partnership and the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning.
Missed part 2? Click here to read it!
Let's dive straight in!
Partnerships with parents
The practitioners who work with your child know a lot about children and their development, but not as much about your child as an individual.
It’s important to give them more information so that they can better understand your little one, aiding their development via specifically catered support, resources and activities.
A good, trusting partnership will support two-way communication between yourself and your child’s key person.
Throughout your time at the nursery, the practitioners will share information about your little one’s progress.
This will help you identify and address any concerns, for example if your child needs a little more support in a particular area.
Sharing information
The two-year-old progress check
All children that attend a nursery or see a childminder will have a developmental check between their second and third birthday. This will take place with you and sometimes your health visitor.
This check helps you and your key person to focus on your child’s progress. It will also help you come up with new ideas to keep chatting, playing, and reading together at home.
You will receive a written summary about your child’s learning and development.
The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile
In the final term of reception at Primary School, teachers complete an assessment known as the EYFS Profile for your little one.
This profile is a quick check of your child’s learning – it will also be shared with you.
What to do if you’re concerned
As a parent, you know your child best! And health visitors and nursery practitioners have expert knowledge of child development.
By working together and bringing up any concerns you have, you can recognise and address any difficulties your little one has with their health, learning or development, giving them any additional support that they need.
Three characteristics of effective teaching and learning
Children are powerful learners; their brains are little sponges soaking up information. But there are ways in which we can help them learn more effectively. Let’s take a look at these now:
· Playing and exploring
· Active Learning
· Creating and thinking critically
Playing and exploring…
Helps learning to understand that actions have an effect on the world.
Helps learning to plan and think ahead about how they will explore or play with objects.
Can use visual aids or conversation to help the thinking process. For example, when doing a jigsaw, they might whisper under their breath: “Where does that one go? – I need to find the big horse next”.
Helps with making independent choices.
Brings in their own interests from home to the nursery setting, helping develop learning.
Makes responding to new experiences more effective.
Active learning…
Teaches to join in with routines without needing to be told.
Helps with learning to predict what might happen whilst understanding a familiar routine.
Develops goal-orientated behaviour.
Helps to learn how to correct mistakes themselves.
Encourages to keep on trying when things are difficult.
Creating and thinking critically…
Can be taking part in simple pretend play, allowing them to be someone else and imagine other points of view.
Can also be sorting materials.
Encouraging your child to talk about their learning and thinking about progress.
Helps with learning to solve real problems like sharing.
Ensures your little one becomes more confident to come up with their own ideas and explanations.
Develops concentration to achieve something – focusing their attention and ignoring distractions.
Thanks for reading! Tune in for part 4 next week when we discuss Development Matters (a learning and development framework we use at The Butterfly Patch).
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