Children should be allowed to be children. The child is at the centre of everything that we do and children are given every opportunity to follow activities that interest them and to learn through play. We follow the framework of the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) which supports a play based approach. There has been much in the press about the new ‘baby curriculum’ and there are fears that many nurseries will revert to a ‘worksheet’ ethos where children are taught by rote where they sit at desks and are forced to write and begin to read. We WILL NOT be one of these nurseries. We cannot endorse the importance of play enough. We are not being lazy and opting for the easier approach.
Our children will not be behind children who attend nurseries who offer the ‘worksheet approach’. We receive very high feedback from primary schools that when children arrive they are independent and capable children who are ready and willing to learn. In fact, research shows that children who follow their interests are more engaged and they learn more. Children have more opportunities to be creative, they develop their problem solving skills, they have high levels of well being and their involvement is higher. In short, we have happy, stimulated children who learn skills for lifelong learning. They are confident, happy, independent and motivated.