LEARNING AT MEADOWLANDS PRE-SCHOOL
LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
Children's Development and Learning
At Meadowlands, our curriculum is built around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is designed to give every child the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to grow, learn and thrive.
We believe young children learn best through play, exploration and meaningful experiences. Our children have opportunities to learn through both child-led play and carefully planned activities, with our practitioners supporting their learning through conversation, modelling, questioning, encouragement and new experiences.
We get to know each child as an individual, building on what they already know and can do, while supporting their next steps. We observe children as they play and learn, using what we see to plan experiences that are engaging, purposeful and suited to their individual needs and interests.
Our curriculum covers all seven areas of learning within the EYFS, helping children develop across communication and language, physical development, personal, social and emotional development, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
We regularly observe and assess children’s learning and development. This helps us celebrate their progress, identify where they may need additional support and plan how we can help them take their next steps. We also value the knowledge and views of parents and carers, working together to build a clear picture of each child’s development.
Above all, we want children to be happy, confident and curious learners, developing a love of learning through their everyday experiences at Meadowlands.
7 AREAS OF LEARNING & DEVELOPMENT
The EYFS covers seven areas of learning, all of which are carefully woven into our daily activities:
The Prime Areas help children build strong foundations:
Communication and Language – chatting, listening, sharing stories and building confidence in speaking
Physical Development – active play, developing coordination and learning healthy habits
Personal, Social and Emotional Development – making friends, building independence and understanding feelings
The Specific Areas help children explore and discover more:
Literacy – enjoying books, songs, rhymes and early mark-making
Mathematics – learning about numbers, shapes, patterns and problem-solving through play
Understanding the World – exploring nature, learning about our community and discovering how things work
Expressive Arts and Design – being creative through art, music, role-play and imagination
WE MEET EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILDS NEEDS
We regularly observe children as they play and learn, allowing us to plan activities that are fun, meaningful and just right for them. By working closely with parents and carers, we create a strong partnership to help every child grow in confidence and feel ready for their next step.
