Play and exploration are crucial for children’s learning, as play is self-chosen and self-directed and therefore intrinsically motivating.
The joy of play is an unrestricted feeling of liberty, and any freely chosen activity could be classed as play.
What we have all just experienced because of the successive lockdowns is that spontaneity and freedom of choice are the things that we all miss, and these are the salient features of play. (In fact, we could argue that during lockdowns we have been ‘looked after in terms of our physical needs’ but we have not been allowed to play – and thus deprived of joy!) It is important to note that high quality play does not mean lack of boundaries and structure. In early years settings we have to adhere to mutually agreed rules (which also apply to wider society, as in the British Values).
We feel, following the example of the Nordic countries, that play provision should never be restrictive in terms of looking for pre-determined outcomes. Thus children are not pressurised to learn; they are motivated to learn, through play.
This is also how we interpret the guidance of the EYFS basing our planning, observation and assessment on how the children function as individuals.
The environment that we provide is ideal for high quality play. The inside and outside areas of the nursery are stimulating and extensive. We ensure that the children have access to an ever-changing variety of activities and experiences which are open-ended and flexible. That is why our planning is structured and cumulative and always open-ended.
We plan a broad and balanced curriculum for the children following the EYFS guidelines. There are three prime areas and seven specific areas of learning that are relevant to early years.
Our curriculum plans cover all these areas sequentially, starting in September at the beginning of each academic year. Each key person assesses the level of functioning of their key children regularly. This means that they notice what children can do and what they know and then adapt the curriculum plans to suit the individual needs of every child. The curriculum plans are a flexible framework of ideas for relevant activities and experiences for every month.
When planning and guiding what children learn, practitioners are aware that children develop at different rates, and whilst doing so they pay attention to the characteristics of effective teaching and learning. These are playing and exploring, active learning and creating and thinking critically.
We share our observations with the parents through Famly app, face to face communications and, if necessary, through emails and telephone conversations. Parents and other family members are invited into the nursery to be part of their child's nursery experience by sharing a talent or skill with the children, and we hold social events for parents at local pubs throughout the year.
Coconut Nursery
133 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0UH
info@coconutnursery.co.uk
07857 961 493