Learning Programme
The setting follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework 2025, this statutory framework sets out what Early Years settings including reception classes in primary schools must do to support children attending.
Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework includes:
- Section 1: Learning, Development And Welfare Standards
- Section 2: Assessment Requirements
- Section 3: Safeguarding ad Welfare Requirements
It also recognises the importance of the Early Years in achieving future success, academically, socially and emotionally.
The playgroup uses the framework and other non-statutory guidance to guide the planning, delivery of play opportunities and assessments to ensure that all children reach their full potential.
In practice this means children develop vital skills whilst having fun painting, cooking, junk modelling, playing with construction toys, listening to stories, singing, interacting with adults and peers and a host of other activities.
Children can play inside and outside whatever the weather and the setting is able to offer free flow play between the two, so children decide where, when and how long they want to play inside or out, we ask parents to ensure that children are dressed suitably for all weathers. We are also a Natural Thinkers Accredited setting, using lots of natural materials in children’s play activities to encourage imagination, sustained and critical thinking, along with opportunities to explore the world around them.
Playgroup introduces children to festivals from around the world through stories, posters, dressing up, cooking and craft activities.
The playgroup also takes children on weekly walks in the local community enjoying the local parks and places of interest to broaden children knowledge and understanding of the world in which we live.
The snack bar offers children another opportunity to be independent and make choices by selecting fruit, pouring their own drinks and cutting their own fruit. Our meal times help children to develop social interactions with their peers whilst sitting and eating appropriately at the table.
The playgroup encourages children to make choices and be independent through everyday routines in the setting regardless of ability.
All children are given a key person when they first start at St Mary’s Playgroup CIO, the key person, works with parents/carers to ensure each child reaches their full potential, attends to the children’s personal care routines, completes developmental assessments, records observations and developmental milestones using the Interactive Learning Diary secure platform, plans interesting, stimulating activities around children’s interests.
We actively encourage parents to view and contribute to their children’s learning journals by logging into the parental portal for the Interactive Learning Diary, your observations of days out, home activities/learning and special moments in your child’s life, help us to view the whole child when we make our developmental assessments.