Little Stars Pre-School

For dates for your diary please see Yarmouth ‘Latest News’ ‘Dates for your Diary – Yarmouth’ or Yarmouth ‘School Calendar’ under ‘News and Events’.

Introduction
Yarmouth Little Stars is run by Yarmouth School Governors and we run effectively as a Foundation Stage Unit alongside the Reception Class.

Our main objective is to ensure that the children have fun, enjoy their time with us and learn in a calm, relaxed, natural way. We endeavour to provide an educationally stimulating environment in which the children feel valued and able to progress at their own speed. We aim to be approachable, open to parents/carers and their families, knowledgeable and helpful wherever we can.

We encourage all aspects of your child’s development, creating a balance between freedom and discipline, creativity and control.

We strive to achieve this with the following objectives:

To encourage a family atmosphere, teaching children to have respect for each other, thereby learning to relate to one another and building an attitude of caring and
sharing.
To encourage learning through play by providing games and activities which develop your child’s skills and self-awareness.
To provide materials and challenges aimed at encouraging excitement and motivation for learning.

Little Stars Curriculum
Our pre-school curriculum is an informal course of learning, working towards The Early Years Foundation Stage. The Early Years Foundation Stage is set out in a document published by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and is the Framework to ensure that every child has the best possible start in life, and support to fulfill their potential. The Framework divides children’s learning into several areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Self-confidence and self-awareness
Making relationships
Managing feelings and behaviour.

Communication and Language
Listening and attention
Understanding and speaking

Physical Development
Moving
Handling
Health and self care

Understanding the World
People and communities
The world
Technology

Literacy
Reading
Writing

Mathematics
Numbers
Shape, space and measure

Expressive Arts and Design
Exploring and using media and materials
Being imaginative

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Playing and exploring, active learning, creating and thinking critically are key to a child’s development and success in learning.
These characteristics underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner as they grow and develop.

Combined together, the seven areas of learning provide opportunities to address important aspects of children’s spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.

The four Themes for the EYFS express important principles underpinning effective practice in the care, development and learning of young children. These are evident in all we are and do at Little Stars.

At Little Stars Children will learn

To use language and communicate with other children and adults
To listen and respond as part of a group
To enjoy stories, poems and music
To recognise that written words carry meaning, stories and ideas
To compare objects/materials and to make predictions about them based upon experience
To create and recognise patterns and sequences
To understand simple ideas of length, weight and volume
To use their senses to enjoy and explore their environment
To observe living things
To become aware of other cultures and beliefs
To name shapes and colours
To begin to understand how their body works
To think about other people and their lives
To acquire the skills and co-ordination they need for both large and small motor skills
To find ways to tackle problems
To come to terms with their emotions and learn to express their feelings

All of these skills are vital to every child. They are the tools that aid all future development, both academically and socially.

We aim to provide a safe, caring environment to enhance the development of your child, a place where they can be happy, learn and progress through having fun. What your child learns at Little Stars is the basic foundation for school studies and beyond.

Your child’s ‘Unique Child Profile’ which we use to track your child’s progress and development will be located in your child’s tray enabling you another way to monitor and contribute to your child’s development records.