The PRIME AREAS:
Communication and Language-
Listening, Attention and Understanding and Speaking
At Berridge, children speak and listen in a variety of contexts and gain confidence in expressing themselves.
By the end of reception we expect children to be able to listen attentively to stories and comment on them, follow instructions containing several parts, answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions, and express themselves effectively when talking about the past, present and future, using recently introduced vocabulary and speaking using full sentences.
The development of children's spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development. Children's back-and-forth interactions from an early age form the foundations for language and cognitive development. The number and quality of conversations they have with adults and peers throughout the day in a language-rich environment is crucial. By commenting on what children are interested in or doing, and echoing back what they say with new vocabulary added, practitioners will build children's language effectively. Reading frequently to children, and engaging them actively in stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems, and then providing them with extensive opportunities to use and embed new words in a range of contexts, will give children the opportunity to thrive. Through conversation, story-telling and role play, where children share their ideas with support and modelling from their teacher, and sensitive questioning that invites them to elaborate, children become comfortable using a rich range of vocabulary and language structures.
Physical Development-
Gross Motor skills and Fine Motor skills
At Berridge, children are active and interactive. They develop their control, co-ordination and movement on a large and small scale. They also understand about what it means to be healthy.
By the end of reception we expect children to move confidently in a range of ways, demonstrating strength, balance and co-ordination. They will also handle tools and equipment safely and effectively, beginning to show accuracy and care when drawing.
Physical activity is vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives. Gross and fine motor experiences develop incrementally throughout early childhood, starting with sensory explorations and the development of a child’s strength, co-ordination and positional awareness through tummy time, crawling and play movement with both objects and adults. By creating games and providing opportunities for play both indoors and outdoors, adults can support children to develop their core strength, stability, balance, spatial awareness, co-ordination and agility. Gross motor skills provide the foundation for developing healthy bodies and social and emotional well-being. Fine motor control and precision helps with hand-eye co-ordination, which is later linked to early literacy. Repeated and varied opportunities to explore and play with small world activities, puzzles, arts and crafts and the practice of using small tools, with feedback and support from adults, allow children to develop proficiency, control and confidence.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development-
Self-Regulation, Managing Self and Building Relationships
At Berridge, children develop a positive sense of self. They develop social skills and learn how to manage relationships. They understand appropriate behaviour and have confidence in their own abilities.
By the end of reception we expect children to try new activities and talk about their ideas, talk about their own and others’ feelings and about what behaviour is and isn’t acceptable, play co-operatively with others, sharing and taking turns. They will also manage their own basic hygiene and personal needs.
Children's personal, social and emotional development (PSED) is crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives, and is fundamental to their cognitive development. Underpinning their personal development are the important attachments that shape their social world. Strong, warm and supportive
relationships with adults enable children to learn how to understand their own feelings and those of others. Children should be supported to manage emotions, develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals, have confidence in their own abilities, to persist and wait for what they want and direct attention as necessary. Through adult modelling and guidance, they will learn how to look after their bodies, including healthy eating, and manage personal needs independently. Through supported interaction with other children, they learn how to make good friendships, co-operate and resolve conflicts peaceably. These attributes will provide a secure platform from which children can achieve at school and in later life.