The Early Years curriculum at Pear Tree School is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum with links made to the PIVATS and P-Levels, making the curriculum accessible for all and enabling all children to make progress at their own level and pace. Our Early Years education is centred around learning through play and experience. We follow "Development Matters" that enable children to progress and learn at their own pace. Our curriculum is divided into six areas of learning:
1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This area is concerned with enabling a child to develop a positive sense of themselves. It is about their emotional well being, knowing who they are, where they fit in and feeling good about themselves. It provides opportunities for children to become aware of other children around them and to develop respect for others.
2. Commuincation, Language and Literacy
This is concerned with developing a child's ability to communicate their needs with others. It encourages both verbal and non verbal forms of communication and encourages children to listen/look and respond in their own way. We provide opportunities for children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words at their own level through stories and rhymes. Children also have access to weekly sessions with a speech and language therapist.
3. Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
This covers all areas of mathematics including number, shape, space and measures. We provide an environment where children are encouraged to explore, investigate, listen and use maths through play and games at their own level.
4. Knowledge and Undertsanding of The World
This enables children to develop the crucial knowledge, skills and understanding that help them make sense of their own environment and world. To enable children to do this we provide practical activities where they can explore independently and with their peers and where they can practise new skills. Our Early Years environment provides a range of activities both indoors and out that stimulate children's interest and curiosity.
5. Physical Development
This area is about improving skills of co-ordination, control, amipulation and movement. We want children to be as independent as possible in the activities they choose to do. We work alongside physiotherapists and occupational therapists who deliver regular appropriate programmes for those children who need it.
6. Creative Development
This area of learning includes art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play. We provide opportunities for children to explore creative resources and to create and develop ideas in their own way.