Stages of the Early Years
Parent & Child
The Parent and Child groups meet for two hours on three mornings each week. In warm and pleasant surroundings we provide a safe nurturing place for the first social steps of children of all cultural backgrounds and an atmosphere for parents and carers which is both relaxed and supportive
We start each morning with a welcoming craft activity and free play where the children play with the simplest toys and with natural objects found around the room. We have some time playing outside and then come together around the table to share a snack of organic food. We finish the morning with simple songs and rhymes and with our Goodbye song.
Kindergarten
The aim of the kindergarten is to foster the free and natural development of childhood, in the belief that the child’s nature is good and should not be disturbed by early interference either through premature intellecuality or through the cold harshness of electronic media.
Each day allows a breathing process alternating between free play and group activities such as paining modelling, drawing, handcrafts and baking. During free play the children enter the world of their imagination, invention and creation, stimulated by unfomed toys taken from nature; shells, fir cones, wood and multi coloured muslin veils for dressing up and building houses. Sharing fairy tales, poetry, plays and puppet shows make another shorter part of the morning and is balanced again by vigourous outdoor play.
These activities stimulate the child on all levels providing a comprehensive education for the alert years and then releasing them eager, creative and repsonsive into class 1 when formal education starts.
