St Joseph's Nursery offers a child centred approach to early education where children are encouraged to become active independent learners. The nursery follows the EYFS framework. There are four guiding principles essential to the St Joseph's Nursery ethos. These are:

1. Each child is unique continuously absorbing information.
2. Positive relationships encourage children to be strong and independent
3. Appropriate enabling environments are central to a child’s learning and development.
4. Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

EYFS Framework

At St Joseph’s our planning and teaching within the EYFS incorporates the children’s interests and individual needs. Learning takes place in both the indoor and outdoor environments and the children take part in a range of adult-led and child-led activities. The children are encouraged to take part in first-hand experiences, play, explore, experiment, think critically, and solve problems. We celebrate each child as a unique individual and work in partnership with parents to ensure the best outcomes for all of the children.

 The EYFS framework has three prime areas:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional development

There are four specific areas, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:

• Literacy.
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

The characteristics of effective learning run through and underpin all seven areas of learning and development, representing processes rather than outcomes. The Characteristics of effective learning are:

• Playing and exploring – engagement
• Active learning- motivation
• Creating and thinking critically- thinking