Curriculum
Everything that we see, hear, touch, smell, taste
Let’s think beyond what a child has achieved and think with children about what they are doing. Let’s work together to uncover alternative understandings in an environment in which children develop their own magic and mysteries. An environment in which they feel free to question the world and are not afraid to challenge the familiar.
Embracing high expectations of children, a sense of belonging, respect, active listening, difference and safeguarding (B.R.A.D.S), we want children to engage with the world, but we want them to know that they can do so through their own creative inquiry rather than by following a path laid out by others.
We believe that the Early Years are an important time in their own right, and much more than a preparation for something to come. As such our philosophy embraces a world view that respects the here and now. We work together to protect the Early Years from potentially restrictive educational expectations, and by avoiding an over-attachment to prescribed outcomes we hope to move beyond restrictions that can interfere and limit the creative and diverse processes of learning.
We are committed to offering rich, varied experiences through Art, Music, Storytelling, Movement and Gardening. Through these experiences, children can learn from different perspectives and alternative paradigms that support their own unique lines of inquiry and experimentation and make courageous contributions to the world.
Art
Artistic expression is at the heart of our curriculum. The children are encouraged to experiment and create with different media and materials, with as much freedom as possible. We focus on enjoying the process and reflecting on it, rather than solely on the final product. We have a luminous and quiet Art Studio in our garden where we create and display our work.
Music
In our dedicated Music Area the children can improvise and create their own music and dance moves with a variety of instruments from all over the world. They join in group activities based on rhythm creation, and together we enjoy a wide repertoire of thought-provoking and imaginative songs in different languages.
Storytelling
We have an extensive library of stories, and we also enjoy storytelling through role play, small world resources… or simply with our imaginations. We are committed to making our stories, even the oldest, relevant to this day and age. We love to empower the children to create and deliver their own stories, which we sometimes write down to record and revisit.
Movement
We explore movement using a set of techniques inspired by Laban’s works and yoga positions. We guide the children to focus on their bodies and how they feel, to be ‘in the moment’ and to be transported by the power of their own imaginations through their movements. We recognise that physical play is a basic need for all children, and we strive to provide opportunities for it indoors and outdoors.
Gardening
We encourage the children to observe, respect and develop a love for nature, and for all the living beings that inhabit or visit our quiet garden and its pond. Different generations of adults and children have added to the garden and made it unique. This is also where we dig and plant our vegetables, herbs and fruit, and some of these are harvested and used in our meals or snacks.
