Early Years
At Conkers, the 'Characteristics of Effective Early Learning' are at the centre of what we do.
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These are life skills, really: curiosity, willingness to have a go at something new, getting involved and concentrating, having the confidence to keep trying even when it gets tricky, or choosing a different way of doing something, even setting up your own challenges and recognising your own achievements. Every child who develops each of these characteristics builds the resilience to overcome the challenges of everyday living and succeed in what they choose to do.
The importance of play
Play is how all children learn. Giving children the opportunity to discover, use their natural curiosity, imagination and enthusiasm allows them to learn and develop the skills they will need for later life. We encourage children to be as independent as possible so that they also learn through trial and error; by encouraging them to overcome difficulties for themselves they build resilience, which better equips them for the future. These are the Characteristics of Effective Learning (COEL).
Child-Led Planning
We're working on this section: watch this space!
Preparing for school
This learning and these interactions are taking place throughout your child's day at Conkers, and there are too many to record each one. For this reason, your child will be given a turn at being a 'focus child' where these interactions are recorded for a week. The information will be shared with you on Famli, an online learning journal that we use for all children, and we will ask you to contribute to this process as well.
Areas of learning
This recorded information links in with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the curriculum we follow which continues into the Reception year at primary school. The EYFS is divided into three Prime Areas of learning: ​
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Personal, Social and Emotional
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Communication and Language
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Physical Development
​These areas of learning underpin all other areas; building these fundamental skills is of paramount importance in the Early Years. The specific areas of learning within the EYFS are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.
Along with long periods of play, we also have some short, focussed circle times for the older children where they are able to further develop those listening skills which will be so important for their journey on to school.
