At Pre-School we follow the 'In the moment planning approach to learning. Below is some information about what to expect when your child attends our setting and how they will be 'learning'.
What is In The Moment Planning? –
Answer- “In the moment planning is – Observing your child through their own interests, play and interactions with each other and members of staff”
Planning
Delivery of the 'Early Years Foundation Stage' curriculum (EYFS) involves a continuous cycle of three parts:
Observing children – What can they do and what do they know?
Assessing based on those observations - What is their next step?
Planning – How I am going to teach them the next step?
The cycle of observation, assessment, planning, will be carried out on a moment-by-moment basis.
We will have four focus children each week from the same Key Workers group. The focus children are given extra attention by their key worker but all the children are still busy and learning all the time!
We are still keeping to the Key Worker system, and that person will take responsibility for collating the observations, but all the staff will contribute observations. Any observations will be put into your child’s learning journey and observations are filled out gradually during the week. Photographs are also printed and added as applicable. In addition ‘Wow’ moments and group observations are recorded for all children as and when they occur.
We believe this is best because ...
“Babies and young children are experiencing and learning in the here and now, not storing up their questions until tomorrow or next week. It is in that moment of curiosity, puzzlement, effort or interest – the ‘teachable moment’ – that the skilful adult makes a difference. By using this cycle on a moment-by-moment basis, the adult will be always alert to individual children (observation), always thinking about what it tells us about the child’s thinking (assessment), and always ready to respond by using appropriate strategies at the right moment to support children’s well-being and learning (planning for the next moment)." - Quoted from National Standards document Learning, Playing and Interacting P.22 - 23
Progress and Development
When children show high levels of involvement, that is when there is progress and development occurring – when the brain is at its most active. High level involvement occurs most often when children are able to pursue their own interests in an enabling environment supported by skilled staff. Planning in the moment helps to make this possible.
An Enabling Environment
We have a workshop style environment indoors and outside. Minimum items are set out on the tables. The children select what they want to do in each area. The principal is that resources are accessible to the children and they are varied, open-ended and high quality. This gives children the opportunity to select resources to support their chosen activity.
Throughout each day we make sure we provide varied maths and literacy resources. Twice a day we focus on Letters and Sounds to prepare children for starting school!
The Role of The Adult
The adults are there to facilitate learning. They do this through observations and interactions. The adult will stand back and observe what the children are doing, assess what they need to do/know/learn next and plan their teaching, which will be delivered there and then. Our adults know the children very well and have a sound understanding of child development. This ensures that the adults enhance and extend the learning at the appropriate level.
How you can help!
At the end of each week we will select the focus children for the following week. Each child will be a focus child at least once in each term. We ask parents to fill in a ‘Interest and Events at home Information sheet’ in as much detail as possible and you can even take some photos. We value the knowledge and understanding you have of your child and would really appreciate it if you would share anything significant happening in your child’s life at the moment with us and to have a greater awareness your child’s current interests and needs. This will also help us to plan for their future learning and development.
Reporting back to parents / carers
We send home, Learning Journey Summaries every term so you can see how your child is progressing. In your Pre-School Diary we have information regarding any festivals/celebrations we will be taking part in. You will also get to see your child’s Learning Journey at the end of each term and attend parents evening twice a year.