Early Foundations

Early Learning Foundations (ELF)

 

The curriculum for the youngest pupils at Kingsland’s centres around the specific needs of each child. Children receive a stimulating mix of play based and adult led learning, reflecting children’s needs and interests. We offer a flexible and personalised induction process for pupils. It is tailored to support learners in moving forwards towards their next steps. We work closely with families and carers to provide a range of bespoke opportunities for young children with additional needs built around common themes and interests. The ELF department on the Stanley Site caters for pupils from 2 - 6/7 years of age and at the Castleford Site learners range from 4 - 6/7 years.

 

We are very proud of our child centred sensory curriculum. Pupils are offered a balance of self-led opportunities, within a developing rolling program of basic continuous provision, alongside exciting structured adult focused activities. This ensures quality play based opportunities which stimulate and enhance learning; it is dynamic and always evolving. We recognise and celebrate all children’s successes.

 

Emphasis is placed on the three prime areas of communication, physical and personal and social development. The four specific areas of literacy, maths, understanding the world and expressive arts and design also feature where appropriate. All are developed through a child centred, play based ethos which also follows EYFS practice guidance. We have the highest possible expectations for the children, with high staffing ratios and well trained staff. We work closely with physiotherapists and speech and occupational therapists, with appropriate programmes being embedded within the children’s daily learning experiences. Learning takes place both inside classrooms and in the outdoor environment. ELF children have access to sensory rooms, soft play, ball pools, a stimulating woodland area, sensory gardens and a range of inclusive challenging outdoor play spaces, some of them fully covered.

 

The curriculum ‘goes home’ with pupils through home school books, shared audio and photo files.  Families are given the opportunity both to share school based experiences and to develop and reinforce learning at home, for example by sharing books, activities or rhymes being worked on at school.