Early Years Foundation Stage

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which sets standards that all Early Years Providers must follow to promote children's learning, development, engagement and safety. 

It encourages school readiness and promotes the development of a broad range of knowledge and skills, setting a secure foundation for future progress.

 These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning: 

• Communication and language
•  Physical development
•  Personal, social and emotional development

 As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas, which are:

• Literacy 
• Mathematics 
• Understanding the world 
• Expressive arts and design

These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities.  The key-person chosen to support your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. 

Ready for Reception

Top Tots Daycare implements an integrated programme, called 'Ready for Reception', where an exclusive curriculum is promoted to develop strong life skills, which prepare children for the transition to Reception. We recognise the importance of a strong early education, and work hard with a valued curriculum to develop the following skills:

• Confidence in socialising with others.
• Independence in their own personal care.
• Strong perseverance in trying new things.
• Curiosity for the world around them and critical thinking skills to solve problems.
• Varied skills in mathematics, literacy, art, science and technology.

The Poetry Basket

Every week, we will be looking at a new rhyme from The Poetry Basket (Helicopter Stories). These poems are engaging and interactive, with the purpose of enriching your child's language. We encourage parents to also implement this at home, to support your child to:

• Learn a range of new vocabulary, to support experimentation with sounds and language.
• Develop listening and concentration skills.
• Recognise rhythm and rhyme.
• Develop practical skills for writing their own poems and stories.

Little Link
Designed by speech and language therapists, Little Link helps Early Years providers to support the best possible communication and language development for preschool children. The aim is to improve speech and language outcomes for all students. We believe boosting speech, language and communication skills will lead to increased life chances. Each preschool child will undertake an assessment to ascertain their current level. Staff will then implement interventions with each child to develop and support them at a pace ideal for the child, using resources and training provided by the Little Link Foundation.

Little Wandle

We follow the Little Wandle phonics and early reading programme. Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is the fastest growing Department for Education-validated phonics programme, already supporting over 5,500 schools to teach every child to learn to read! Each child will engage in a small-group phonics, reading and language session, delivered on a weekly basis by our Early Years Lead. Our aim is to prepare children for Reception and to build their oral blending skills, syllable, letter and sound recognition, and love for reading, before they begin school.

For information regarding what we are learning daily, any special events or news updates, please check out our weekly newsletters under the "News" tab.