| Apple Blossom |
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Each session is planned according to children's interests and their stages of knowledge and development. All staff work together to ensure that children have the opportunity to engage in a variety of rich and stimulating activities that meet all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Staff acknowledge that children need to be stretched, but not pushed beyond their capabilities to allow them to continue to enjoy their future and on-going learning experiences.
Our aim is to offer all the children an enjoyable learning environment where each individual is valued and can develop to their fullest potential. |
Apple Blossom Room can cater for twenty four children aged between 3 and 5 years at any one time as the adult:child ratio is 1:8. We are a team of qualified and experienced staff, each of whom acts as a key person to a group of children. Children in this room are offered ample opportunities to further extend their independence skills e.g. staff encourage and support them to put on and take off their coats, be independent in toileting skills, change from indoor to outdoor shoes etc.
The room is spacious and designed to encourage children to thrive to their fullest potential. The room has designated learning areas e.g. creative area, quiet/reading area and ICT just to name a few. The bathroom/toileting area is a shared facility with the Pear Blossom Room (2 – 3 years).
The outdoor areas consist of a sheltered all weather area, astro turf garden, and a woodland area which has a 'hang out' hut, a giant tree trunk to explore and sensory panels where children can explore different shapes and natural textures. It is our aim to offer a free flow play environment in which children can choose to play either indoors or out; as a staff team we take pride in ensuring that there are sufficient resources and play opportunities in all areas to stimulate and challenge all the children and their differing needs.
In this room we also encourage children to respect, take care and have ownership of all the resources. We encourage them to tidy up, look after resources and share and co-operate with their peers. It is of key importance that we work with our parents and carers and that we jointly offer the children a consistent approach.
We have good relationships and strong links with the local schools and over the years, as children leave our room to move onto school, we encourage the teachers to visit the children that are joining them. This allows us to share the relevant children's interests and stages of development allowing each child to have a smooth and comfortable transition onto their new learning environment.