A tailored approach to early years education
At Pepperberry Nursery, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, which sets the standards for learning, development, and care for children from birth to five. While adhering to these guidelines, we enhance our approach with the Birth to 5 Matters guidance, tailoring education to each child's unique journey. This approach ensures that learning is engaging, nurturing, and adaptable to individual needs. Our dedicated team combines creativity, play, and exploration to inspire curiosity and lay the foundation for lifelong learning in a safe, supportive environment.
Birth to 5 Matters: Supporting Every Child’s Unique Journey
Birth to 5 Matters is a guidance document that complements the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), offering a flexible approach to early education. It focuses on meeting the unique needs of each child, promoting exploration, creativity, and meaningful interactions to support their holistic development.
At Pepperberry Nursery, we use Birth to 5 Matters to create enriching, child-centred learning experiences. By fostering play, nurturing relationships, and tailoring activities to individual strengths, we help children build confidence, develop essential skills, and prepare for the next stage of their learning journey in a warm and supportive environment.
Skills for the 21st century
Birth to 5 Matters is written in the context of the world that your child is growing up in. For example, included in the guidance are sections about the positive use of technology, sustainability, equality and inclusion. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents are concerned about their children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health.
Birth to 5 Matters has an important section which focuses on nurturing care. This will support the staff who look after your child to understand about the value of forming close bonds and help them to work with your child if they become upset. The guidance has been written based on the rights of children as our youngest citizens, using the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC).
Assessing your child's progress
During your child’s time in an early years setting, practitioners observe, assess, and plan to support their development. Key assessments include a government-mandated 2-year check alongside a Health Visitor and the Reception Baseline Assessment.
The final EYFS assessment happens at the end of Reception, measuring progress against the Early Learning Goals. Birth to 5 Matters recommends recording progress 2-3 times yearly, using overlapping ranges to reflect varied learning rates. Sharing your child’s achievements at home helps create a complete picture, allowing you and their key person to collaborate on the best ways to support their growth.
The child’s voice
When early years practitioners talk to you about your child, they may refer to your child’s“voice”. This term recognises that very young children can and do communicate - often without speaking. They send clear messages about how they feel, what they like and how they are experiencing the world around them.
Any assessment made about your child’s progress will be based on their key person’s knowledge of them along with observations of your child at play and their “voice”. You know your child best and should be asked to add your own thoughts, observations and feelings to any assessment to make sure it reflects your child’s full life both within the early years setting at home and in the wider community.
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Discover how our nursery can give your child the best possible start in their educational journey. Contact us today to arrange a visit and learn more about our tailored approach to early years learning.
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