Early Years Pedagogy
GEMS Founders School uses the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework as the basis for its curriculum. This framework ensures that all children have access to a broad range of knowledge, and skills that are essential for future progress through school and life.
At GEMS Founders School, we understand that young children learn most effectively when they are actively engaged. Active learning involves meaningful interactions with people, objects, ideas, and events that captivate children’s attention and sustain their involvement. As such, we prioritise a mix of different practical approaches. Children learn by adults modelling, by observing each other, through adult-guided learning and through play.
Play is a crucial element of the learning process, supporting children’s development across all areas. Our practitioners provide a variety of high quality structured and unstructured play opportunities, both indoors and outdoors. These learning opportunities immerse children in hands-on experiences that encourage curiosity, exploration, investigation, and allow children to pursue their own interests, helping them make sense of the world around them.
Teachers support children with their learning through modelling, observing, developing play and supporting thinking. These interactions form the basis of our ongoing observational assessments of children against developmental milestones.
Throughout the year, ongoing observational assessments are conducted to track progress against developmental milestones. At the end of FS2, children’s attainment is evaluated against the 17 Early Learning Goals. Our Foundation Stage is designed to ensure that it contributes positively to children’s brain development, it nurtures a lifelong love of learning and supports readiness for Key Stage 1, equipping children with the skills and confidence they need to thrive in school and beyond.
* Early years foundation stage statutory framework For childminders Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five Dated: 11 October 2024 Effective: 01 November 2024
