PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT
Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives.
Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood. It starts with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, coordination and positional awareness. Children explore and develop through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults.
Play supports building core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, coordination, and agility. By creating games and opportunities for both indoor and outdoor play, children gain a variety of experiences. And, they get to do this while having fun with their peers!
Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies, as well as social and emotional well-being.
Fine motor control and precision help with hand-eye coordination, which is later linked to early literacy. These skills support the later development of things like scissor and pencil control and handwriting.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE
The development of children’s spoken language underpins all of their learning and development.
Children’s back-and-forth interactions are effective from an early age. They form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of the conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment are crucial.
Having conversations together is key. Commenting on what children are interested in or doing, and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, helps children learn by example. Practitioners will build children’s language effectively by involving them in a conversation.
Reading frequently to children helps to grow their vocabulary and listening skills. Engage them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes, and poems. Then provide them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts like writing and talking. This will give children the opportunity to thrive and enjoy exploring the new words they are learning.
Through conversation, story-telling and role-play, children can share their ideas. With support and modelling from their teacher and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Children’s personal, social and emotional development (PSED) is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives. It’s a fundamental aspect of their cognitive development.
Underpinning their personal development are all kinds of important attachments. The attachments and relationships children form now can shape their social world.
Strong, warm and supportive relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others.
Children should be supported to:
Manage emotions;
Develop a positive sense of self;
Set themselves simple goals;
Have confidence in their own abilities;
Persist and wait for what they want;
Direct attention as necessary.
The 4 Specific Areas:
MATHEMATICS
Mathematics is divided between ‘Number’ and ‘Numerical Patterns’.
Number concentrates on number work and number problems, supporting children in counting, addition and subtraction.
Numerical Patterns focuses on recognising and representing patterns as they count, being able to compare numbers and see differences.
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD
Understanding the World covers three key topics, which include:
People, Culture, and Communities – In this area children will broaden their understanding of different people including their cultures, religious beliefs, and their individual contributions to society.
The Natural World – This area explores the natural world, seeking to help children understand the seasons and other living organisms.
Past and Present – Looking at the past and present, children should be beginning to understand and articulate differences.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN
This final area of learning seeks to support children in expanding their imagination and ability to express themselves using the skills they have gained through the previous Prime and Specific Areas of Learning.
This Learning Area explores:
Creating with Materials – Children can experiment with different ways to make or present art. This includes looking at different media, like drawings or sculptures, and different materials, like colouring, painting, or building.
Being Imaginative and Expressive – Children being able to come up with their own pictures, ideas, and ways to express themselves.
LITERACY
This area is divided between ‘Comprehension’, ‘Word Reading’ and ‘Writing’. Each of these sections focuses on different skills relating to reading and writing development.
Comprehension refers to children understanding and comprehending the words they read or hear. It’s a necessary skill for both reading and writing, and it starts from birth. Language comprehension mainly develops when adults talk with children about the world around them, explaining things, answering questions and giving examples of words. Reading books to children – whether they’re fictional stories or facts and non-fiction – and sharing rhymes, poems and songs together will promote this development further as children grow. This can be a crucial stage for children, as keen work here may develop a life-long love of reading.
Word reading involves both the speedy working out of the pronunciation of unfamiliar printed words based on the sounds of each letter, which is called ‘decoding’. They should also be learning the speedy recognition of familiar printed words.
Writing involves transcription, including both spelling and handwriting. It also involves composition, where children articulate ideas and structure them in speech, before writing.
Cambridge International Primary Curriculum.
The Cambridge Primary Curriculum is a framework for children’s primary education, based on the education system in the UK. It is aimed at children aged 5-11 years. This enriched International Curriculum is the learning framework for our Infant School students. The programme focuses on engaging children in global topics, getting them to think critically and develop a passion for learning.
The Cambridge curriculum moulds and shapes global citizens with a sound understanding and appreciation for all cultures.
Our Literacy Programme of Choice
The Jolly Phonics program teaches children to read and write using synthetic phonics, and is widely recognized as the most effective way to teach children to read and write in English. Phonics is central to the UK curriculum, today it is now used in over 100 countries worldwide.
Systematic teaching of phonics across our 1-5-year-old classes starting with Jolly music which is multi-sensory and active, with fun actions, stories, and songs and moving onto the teaching of all the 7 groups of letter sounds, how to blend, segment decode tricky words, and finally read.
Independent research supports the outstanding results achieved around the world with the program which your child will love and learn the fundamental skill of how to read.
Assessment of your Child's Progress
Your child’s progress will be reviewed when they’re between 2 and 3 by an early years practitioner. Their class teacher will assess them at the end of the school year when they turn 5.
The assessment is based on classroom observations and a small test of their knowledge. It uses the early learning goals, which can be found in the early years’ framework, as a benchmark of what your child should know.
In the reception class 4-5 years, Petits Scholars uses its unique program ‘Early years advanced’ to teach and develop the children. Our scheme of work is designed to challenge our children to be the exceptional beings that they are by introducing them to some class 1 work. This is carefully taught to the children through a series of fun, games and practical activities. Placing our Scholars ahead of the pack when departing to primary school.
In year 1, all students will undergo the Jolly Phonics Screening Test. This consists of a reading and spelling test of 40 key words. In year 2 our students will sit their SAT exams (Standardised Assessment Tests) this is to check their educational progress. Our year 2 students conclude with a research project this includes a presentation to parents.
French
Spanish
IT
Music
Twi
Child to teacher ratios are as follows:
| Tiny 1 year | 3:1 |
| Tiny 2 year | 3:1 |
| Tweenie | 4:1 |
| Preschool | 5:1 |
| Reception | 8:1 |
| Year 1 | 8:1 |
| Year 2 | 8:1 |
Different countries refer to early years classes as different names. We have simplified the references for you in the table below in order for you to have an idea of which class may be best suited to your child at Petits Scholars International.
| PETITS SCHOLARS | UK | GHANA | US |
|---|---|---|---|
Tiny 1-2 Years | Nursery | Creche | Creche |
Tweenie 2-3 Years | Nursery | Nursery | Pre-Kindergarten |
Preschool 3-4 Years | Preschool | Kindergarten 1 | Pre-Kindergarten |
Reception 4-5 Years | Reception | Kindergarten 2 | Junior Kindergarten |
| TIME | ACTIVITY | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|
| 8:00 am – 8:30 am | Registration and Free Play | EYFS areas of learning: CML, PSED, UTW |
| 8:30 am – 9:00 am | Circle Time | PSED, UTW, CML, L, and N |
| 9:00 am -10:00 am | Jolly Phonics | PSED, UTW, CML, L, and N |
| 10:00 am – 10:20 am | SNACK TIME | EYFS areas of learning: PSED, UTW, CML |
| 10:20 am – 11:00 am | Music Session | EYFS areas of learning: CML,PD, PSED, L, M, UTW |
| 11:00am – 12 noon | Paddling Pool | EYFS areas of learning: CL, PD, PSED, L, M, UTW |
| 12:00pm -1:00 pm | LUNCH | EYFS areas of learning: CML, PD, PSED, UTW |
| 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm | Outdoor Play | EYFS areas of learning: CML, PD, PSED, L, M, UTW, EAD |
| 2:00 pm | HOME TIME | EYFS areas of learning: CML, PSED, UTW |
Abbreviation Meanings
• Communication and language CL
• Physical development PD
• Personal, social and emotional development PSED
• Literacy L
• Mathematics M
• Understanding the world UTW
• Expressive arts and design EAD
Tiny Class:
Our youngest group of scholars the 1-2-year-olds will enjoy fun-filled creative days of fun, excitement, love and nurturing. Our full equipped tiny room caters to all your child’s needs, from our sensory equipment to aid early development to our safe and hygienic changing facilities and age-appropriate feeding equipment. Our Tiny scholars have the right to start on their exciting journey of discovery.
Tweenie Class:
Our 2-3-year-old Tweenies are now growing in their imagination and curiosity. Speech is rapidly developing and the interest in independence blossoming. Our Tweenie team of attentive staff will work with our Tweenies to potty train, encourage self-care e.g. dressing, putting on shoes and eating independently. Tweenie scholars continue with a range of practical life and sensory activities to further develop both fine and gross motor skills.
Preschool Class:
In the Pre-school Room, our 3-4-year-olds will have the opportunity to experience a range of activities which cover all the 7 areas of the EYFS curriculum. At this stage, children are expected to be fully toilet trained and out of diapers. Preschool will be introduced to early reading, writing, and mathematics. These activities are delivered in a fun, relaxed manner allowing all children to learn naturally through play. Each child is encouraged to learn at their own pace within their own capabilities.
Reception Class:
Our 4-5-year-olds are now in preparation for primary school. Having experienced all the growth and development throughout the previous years, the reception class will now be introduced to science, physical education and further the stages of the Jolly phonics literacy program. Reception class also embark on exciting excursions outside of school to further support their learning. Within this year our Scholars undergo a short assessment to ensure all of the Early learning goals have been met. At the end of the reception year, our Scholars work towards an amazing graduation ceremony. During the ceremony, we celebrate their achievements and give them a wonderful send off to their new school of choice
Useful Links
Details on EYFS curriculum:
https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage
Early learning outcomes:
https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/
2012/03/Development-Matters-FINAL-PRINT-AMENDED.pdf
Stages and Ages of Development:
https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/
files/2015/04/4Children_
ParentsGuide_2015_FINAL_WEBv2.pdf
