Meadows Curriculum

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At Meadows Preschool, we believe children learn best when they feel safe, happy, confident and able to explore the world around them.

Our curriculum is built around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and is shaped by the individual children who attend Meadows. We recognise that every child develops differently, so our practitioners carefully observe, interact with and support each child to build on what they already know and can do.

As many of our children grow with us from infancy, joining Meadows from around 9 months old and remaining with us until school age, our curriculum has been carefully designed around the foundations we believe matter most during these important early years.

This is at the heart of our curriculum.

From a baby's earliest communication and movement, through to the confidence, independence and curiosity needed for school, we build on children's learning continuously as they grow with us.

Our aim is not to rush children towards the next stage, but to provide strong foundations at every stage of their development.

At the heart of our curriculum are three key areas:

Communication & Language

Communication is at the heart of everything we do.

From a baby's earliest sounds, gestures and eye contact, through to conversations, storytelling and expressing ideas, we provide a language-rich environment where children feel listened to and understood.

Our practitioners model language naturally through play, stories, songs, routines and everyday conversations, helping children develop confidence, understanding and vocabulary.

We recognise that communication looks different for every child and may include words, gestures, signs, visuals, facial expressions or other forms of communication.

Physical Development

Children learn through movement and exploration.

From babies reaching, rolling and crawling, to older children running, climbing, balancing, drawing and developing self-care skills, we provide opportunities for children to build strength, coordination, confidence and independence.

Physical development is woven throughout the day and supports children's wellbeing, confidence and later learning.

Creativity & Imagination

We want children to have the freedom to imagine, create, experiment and express themselves.

Creativity can be seen in painting, music and dance, but also in building, storytelling, role play, problem-solving and discovering new ways to use everyday resources.

We value the process of creating rather than expecting every child to produce the same outcome.

Play is at the heart of learning at Meadows.

Children learn through exploring, investigating, talking, moving, creating and interacting with others. Our practitioners provide a balance of child-led play, carefully planned experiences and spontaneous learning opportunities.

Some of the most valuable learning happens during everyday moments — sharing a snack, building a tower, watching an insect, putting on a coat or talking about something that happened at home.

Our curriculum is not a fixed programme of activities.

Every child brings their own interests, experiences, personality, culture and way of learning to Meadows. Our practitioners use their knowledge of each child to decide what support, challenge or experience will help them move forward.

We continually consider:

• What does this child already know?
• What are they interested in?
• What might they be ready to learn next?
• How can we support and extend their learning?

This helps us ensure that learning remains meaningful and individual.

Inclusion is embedded throughout everything we do.

Our curriculum is designed to support every child, including children with SEND. We recognise that children may communicate, move, explore and learn in different ways, so our practitioners adapt experiences, environments and interactions to meet individual needs.

Our aim is for every child to experience belonging, participation, progress and success.