At Daisy Chain Day Nursery we follow The Early Years Foundation Stage, this is shaped by four overarching principles, these are:

• Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
• Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The EYFS specifies requirements for learning and development which include:

• The seven areas of learning and development within which we plan our activities.
• The early learning goalswhich we support children to work towards by the end of the academic year in which they turn 5.
• The assessment arrangements by which we measure progress. 

There are seven of learning and development which must shape educational programmes in early years settings. All areas of learning are important and interconnected. The areas of learning and development are split into three prime and four specific areas of learning.

Prime areas of learning

Personal, Social and Emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Physical Development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Communication and Language Development this involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Specific Areas of Learning

Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.

Mathematics the opportunity to develop and improve skills in counting, understanding and using numbers
calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shape, space and measures.

Understanding of the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive arts and design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.



Characteristics of Effective Early Learning

Each child reaches out to relate to people and things through the characteristics of effective early learning:

• Playing and exploring – engagement

• Active Learning – motivation

• Creating and thinking critically – thinking

Learning Journal

Each child has their own online Learning Journal. We use a programme called 'Tapestry'. This online journal includes examples of children's work, observations of each child's play and achievements. Photographs and videos of each child at play are also included. Parents and carers are encouraged to add observations and photos onto their childs Tapesty account.