At HTPD we believe that being creative is more than just being good at art or music, it is what makes us human. We are created to be creative and it is therefore at the very heart of the educational process; a way of working, thinking and being that makes us whole and inspires us in whatever we do. It is the idea that is embodied in our school motto ‘Learn to Live’. Discovering and releasing this inner creativity should be the goal of education.
Our creative, cross-curricular and child-centred curriculum allows for excited and enthusiastic thinkers, with enquiry and exploration being at the heart of learning. Our approach to teaching and learning encourages children to be open-minded, to think and work independently and collaboratively, to problem solve and be able to communicate effectively.
To fulfil these aims we have developed a curriculum model based on termly topics or themes for each year group.
Early Years Foundation Stage
Our approach to the EYFS curriculum recognises that every child is a competent learner and that all children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. We offer rich and personalised experiences which motivate, challenge and inspire our children to become curious and enquiring learners. The indoor and outdoor environment plays a significant role in supporting and extending children's development and learning at Pewley. We highly value outdoor learning experiences.
We encourage children to make meaning for themselves based on their own understanding of why and how new knowledge is related to their own experiences, interests and needs. This process takes different forms for different children. It involves the teacher, the child and often others in an interactive process that encourages children’s intellectual development and their capacity for independent and reflective judgement. This learning process takes the form of LEAPs where children will work with the adults in the setting to develop their own topics and lines of interest.
The Reception Year has its own curriculum, Early Years Foundation Stage, which begins in the nursery phase and carries on into Reception. It covers the six areas of learning:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development