Early Education
Children learn from the moment that they are born and by the time they are three years old they have learnt a great deal. Young children do not separate care and education but learn from everything around them. Central to this are strong and caring relationships between children and adults. It is important that early years practitioners work in partnership with parents and carers. Partnerships are promoted by valuing and building on children's previous learning. To support this development there are national guidance documents; Birth to Three Matters and the curriculum guidance for the Foundation Stage.
The foundation stage begins when children reach the age of three and lasts until the end of reception year. Children aged three, four and five are constantly encountering new experiences and seeking to understand them in order to extend their skills, develop their confidence and build on what they already know. Well-planned play is a key way in which children learn with enjoyment and challenge during the Foundation Stage. Practitioners have a crucial role in helping children learn and use a range of teaching and care experiences of the highest quality, considering both the children's needs and achievements and the range of learning experience that will help them make progress.
The foundation stage begins when children reach the age of three and lasts until the end of reception year. Children aged three, four and five are constantly encountering new experiences and seeking to understand them in order to extend their skills, develop their confidence and build on what they already know. Well-planned play is a key way in which children learn with enjoyment and challenge during the Foundation Stage. Practitioners have a crucial role in helping children learn and use a range of teaching and care experiences of the highest quality, considering both the children's needs and achievements and the range of learning experience that will help them make progress.
All settings that receive nursery education grant are required to offer high quality provision. Support is provided by SureStart County Durham foundation stage team. SureStart County Durham expects providers to adhere to their document; 'principles of high quality provision'.