Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum and Key Stage 1 and 2
There are many characteristics of effective learning and we believe that your stay at North Hayne Farm will provide many opportunities that will support your child’s/children’s learning in the early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
The new revised EYFS (from Sep 2012, and later revision in 2014) contains a series of Early Learning Goals that set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of their reception year. These goals are grouped into 7 areas of learning.
Communication and Language
Visiting the ‘feeding barn’ each morning and evening as part of a group or independently provides wonderful opportunities to listen, understand and follow instructions, respond appropriately, ask questions and express themselves.
Physical
Moving confidently around the farm, opening and closing hutches, gates, collecting eggs, exploring the great outdoors, completing activity work packs and using the large range of outdoor TP play equipment. These all provide opportunities for moving and handling, showing control and co-ordination. Managing their own basic hygiene and understanding how to stay healthy and safe are promoted daily through hand washing/using handwipes routines which the children are encouraged to do by themselves with parental supervision where appropriate.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
A huge part of holidaying at North Hayne Farm focuses on this area as children quickly develop self-confidence whilst feeding the animals each day. It is evident that their social skills develop through this regular routine, working both in small groups and independently and that they understand expected behaviour around others (including the animals ) and show an understanding of co-operation and taking turns ( you will see this as they wait for their buckets and patiently wait for their donkey ride!!) Some of the older children will also enjoy taking ‘extra responsibility’ for farm tasks which helps them to develop a positive sense of themselves and respect for others. ‘Well Done’ Certificates are awarded each week on departure and reward stickers (often designed by the children themselves!) are also used during their stay.
Literacy
Around the farm (both inside and outside) there are many notices, signs and farm trails for children to read. Talking to others about what they have read helps them to understand and make sense of the information. In addition to this there are Information packs in each cottage and Curriculum Activity packs available from the farmhouse which help to consolidate knowledge and understanding. These packs also provide opportunities for reading and writing in a meaningful context.
Mathematics
Simple tasks such as counting out the buckets of food at feeding time, comparing quantities of animal feed, thinking about time (what time do we feed the animals? How long do we have before our donkey ride?) Size; Who is the smallest animal? Largest goat? heaviest animal on the farm? Are there more sheep than goats? and so on.. Providing lovely opportunities to develop understanding of shape, space, measure and number.
Understanding of the world
This involves guiding children to make sense of their environment. As children are naturally curious, they will ask questions and there are many opportunities for them to find out, explore, observe and therefore learn. They can develop further understanding about themselves and others, being sensitive to similarities and differences; they can make observations of the farm animals and plants and learn about their needs and how things can change. Completing our our `Welly Walks`, outdoor sensory trail and `Stick Man Hunt` will also support this learning and encourage investigation.
Expressive Arts and Design
In addition to being able to design their own `feeding time` and `clean hands` stickers, our indoor playbarn provides many play opportunities for being imaginative using role play, music and books. Our `Art Gallery` encourages children to draw, paint or create `works of art` and in addition from time to time this area of learning is particularly enhanced and promoted through `activity workshops` which link to seasonal ‘themes’ throughout the year involving painting, gluing and sticking sessions, modelling, simple cooking, mud pie baking and even tree planting!
Please note
For older children key stage 1 and Key Stage 2 activity packs are also available from the farmhouse reception as well as a range of outdoor trails and bug hunts all linking to the National Curriculum.
Have fun learning and enjoy your family holiday!
C.Dixon; NNEB/Cert-Ed/FE and Early years