Our Curriculum

Our child-centred approach ensures children are at the heart of everything we do. We strive to create a happy, calm, nurturing environment, where all children's opinions and voices are heard and valued. Enabling all children to become unique and respectful individuals and set the foundation for their future learning.

Through the use of In the Moment Planning (ITMP), children are able to take part in activities that are set out to follow their individual interests. We use both adult and child-led activities to support and scaffold their learning. This approach recognises that every child is unique and has their own way of learning and developing. This enables practitioners to build positive relationships with their key children and provide personalised learning experiences whilst valuing children's opinions and their contributions. Learn through play supports ITMP by, allowing children to freely explore our free flow environment with opportunities to experiment and learn through their senses. This enables children to engage in activities, make their own choices and again express their interests.

Jess’ Mini Music Adventures! These lively and interactive music sessions are designed to nurture children’s development in a fun, engaging way, supporting a range of important skills that align with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

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At The Play Corner, we’re always looking for new ways to enrich our curriculum and support each child’s development. Adding extracurricular activities like Jess’ Mini Music Adventures is part of our ongoing commitment to creating a well-rounded experience that nurtures all aspects of a child’s growth—physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively.

Through extracurricular activities, children are provided with more opportunities to explore their interests, learn new skills, and express themselves in creative ways. We are continually expanding our offerings to ensure children have access to a broad range of experiences that complement their learning in the classroom.

Gardening encompasses a wide range of opportunities for holistic development within the EYFS. Children’s PSE grows as they learn a sense of responsibility and nurturing through ownership of plants. They learn in order for something to grow, they need to develop patience. Children’s language thrives in the garden with new words and ways to communicate created. Children develop a sense of accomplishment when they see something they have nurtured grow and being able to pick it, taste it and take it home is a sensory adventure! 

Over the past year, we’ve had the privilege of welcoming several special visitors to The Play Corner, including ambulance services, farm animals, and charity mascots. These visits are not only fun and exciting, but they also offer unique opportunities and experiences for our children to learn valuable life skills in a safe and engaging environment. Where children can ask questions, learn new things, and practice important life skills, all while having a blast with our special visitors. 

We believe in the magic of books and the joy of reading. That’s why we are excited to offer regular library visits as part of our Early Years program! These visits are designed to inspire a love for stories, foster early literacy skills, and immerse children in a rich world of imagination and learning.

Personal, Social and Emotional

At our early years setting, we believe that the foundation of learning is built upon a strong sense of self, emotional regulation, and understanding the feelings of others. Through role modelling and a nurturing approach, we encourage children to explore their emotions, recognize their feelings, and build empathy for others. This empowers them to engage openly with new experiences and form meaningful relationships with their peers.

Communication and Language

At our early years setting, we believe that language is at the heart of all learning. Communication and language are woven into every part of our day—from reading stories to singing songs, and from welcome time to bucket time. Through these activities, we ensure that children not only have fun but also develop the skills they need to express themselves, listen to others, and build strong relationships.

Our golden rules are discussed regularly, helping children understand how to communicate respectfully and kindly with one another. Whether it’s during adult-led or child-led activities, our environment is filled with opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and practice language in everyday contexts.

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Physical Development

Physical development is a key aspect of our approach to fostering well-rounded, confident children. At our setting, we create a variety of opportunities for children to engage in both gross motor and fine motor activities throughout the day, ensuring they develop strength, coordination, and control over their bodies. Whether its climbing play structures, taking part in obstacle courses, play dough modelling, finger gym activities. We also incorporate health and wellness into physical development, teaching children the importance of staying active and ensuring healthy choices by offering a broad range of snack.

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Literacy

We know that the foundation for literacy development begins long before children start reading and writing. That’s why we provide interactive and engaging activities that help children develop a love for language, storytelling, and early literacy skills. Through activities like story sacks, singing songs, letter recognition, and drawing, we create an environment where literacy comes to life.

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Mathematics

At The Play Corner, we understand that maths is everywhere! Our goal is to create a maths-rich environment where children can naturally engage with shapes, numbers, measurements, and patterns through play and exploration. We provide a range of activities that help children develop a strong foundation for mathematical thinking while having fun. Through activities like building blocks, exploring different weights, sand and water exploration. 

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Understanding the World

We believe in encouraging children to explore and understand the world around them through hands-on experiences and engaging activities. Our goal is to help children make sense of the world, appreciate the diversity of life, and develop a sense of responsibility toward the environment and the people they meet. We regularly make bug hotels, grow our own food and learn about animals from different parts of the world. We explore different cultures, traditions, and countries, children learn about the world’s diversity, helping them develop respect and empathy towards others.

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Expressive Arts and Design

​At The Play Corner, we recognize that creativity is a vital part of a child’s development. By providing opportunities for expressive art and design, we help children explore their imagination, enhance their senses, and develop self-confidence. Whether it’s through sensory exploration, food play, or role-play areas, we encourage children to express themselves freely, experiment with materials, and create something uniquely their own.