EYFS & The Babysdays System

 

Our Teaching Approach

We have a strong ethos as a Vegan and Eco-friendly setting.  Importance is placed on Kind Education, where children learn how all sentient beings are important and how we need to look after our world.  Therefore we are compassionate to animals, learn about them, do not contribute to their suffering and killing for our use.  Children eat plant based nutrition and learn about where their food comes from.  Children have opportunity to grow their own herbs, fruit and vegetables.  The setting is eco-friendly and uses reusable nappy system and are a member of the Potty Training Academy, working together with parents to get their children trained and out of nappies quicker in line with the child’s development. Children also learn to be kind, considerate, empathise and respect each other as growing individuals with different personalities, needs, cultural and religious differences and how we each have individual qualities that can create a deeply valued community while simultaneously fostering individualism, giving children their own voice and the ability to interact successfully with others.

Kind Education works alongside the EYFS and we also use aspects of three main teaching approaches in implementing planning.  These are:  Montessori, where we work on strong links between our setting and family, have multiple age groups, as children learn from each other and we use sensory learning through the environment.  Reggio Emilia, where we have a homely environment so children feel comfortable and have a place for their belongings and we encourage individual self-directed learning.  Highscope where children are encouraged to be active in their learning through supportive adult interactions and we implement group activities i.e. discussion and participation at circle time as well as during activities and outings.  Children are encouraged to share ideas as children’s interests and choices are at the heart of this approach.  We also use theorist approaches to working with children especially that of Vygotsky’s ZPD (zone of proximal development), being the ‘able other’ to encourage the child to move on to the next stage of development’.

The EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) is a very valued guidance tool we use at all times and this document guides us in the 7 areas of development and all development matters.

 

EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)

In our setting we use the EYFS framework to support us working with the EYFS to help your child through their development journey from birth until they reach 5, the end of the reception year.  This is a very important stage as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and success.  From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure and support their development, care and learning needs.

Nurseries, pre-schools, reception classes and childminders registered to deliver the EYFS must follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS 2014).

Please see web site below which is a parents guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which explains what the EYFS is in more detail.  Please note we also have a copy in reception in our Parent Resource File.

The EYFS Framework exists to support all professionals working in the EYFS to help your child, and was developed with a number of early years experts and parents.  In 2012 the framework was revised to make it clearer and easier to use, with more focus on the things that matter most.  This new framework also has a greater emphasis on your role in helping your child develop.  The framework has been revised again with changes to the statutory guidance effective September 2014.

The EYFS covers 7 areas of learning

Personal, social and emotional development

Physical development

Communication and Language

Expressive arts and design

Literacy

Mathmatics

Understanding the World

Click here for more information…

Kind Education

Children learn to be kind to each other, animals and to our environment.  Children learn that all beings have feelings and emotions, want to be happy and not suffer.  Children are taught through discussion, activities, specific visits, talks, programmes and through books both fact and fiction.

The Babysdays System

Baby’s Days is a complex yet simple to manage online software system for childcare settings and parents.  The system has been designed and developed to assist childcare settings with the forms and paperwork involved, around all areas of the EYFS – Early Years Foundation Stage.

The software was developed with the help from practitioners and experts and is the most advanced online software system of its type.  It allows you the parent to connect to the system to view information relating to your child.

Babys Days is a wonderful way of us working together and is a wonderful communication resource.  You are able to connect to the system at any time and access all information about your child, our setting, policies, permissions, food menus, newsletters, private messages, see your childs diaries, next steps, observations, photographs, food they have eaten that day etc…  You can also contact us when time suits you or issues spring to mind that you want to log and send as a message to us immediately i.e. add your own notes to the system, observations and communicate with me via private messages and diary comments.

As Babys Days handles the private and personal data of the children we are caring for and also some limited data of the parents, Babys Days are responsible, under The Data Protection Act to register with them.  Babys Days DPA Registration number is Z2175497.

Mrs Jennifer Schol and Miss Jasmine Schol are registered with ICO – Information Commissioners Office as we handle paperwork through the settings computer, use Babys Days and use an Ipad, camera and phone.