Coutts Childcare

Every child is unique and so we take a blended approached to our teaching methods and planning, incorporating Waldorf, Montessori and The Curiosity Approach. Providing an unhurried environment where children can freely choose activities, giving time to discover, building confidence, independence, self-esteem, developing creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and master social interaction, learning to self-regulate and develop physical co-ordination, speech, language and other life skills.

Activities are planned following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) set out by the Department for Educational (DfE). In The Moment Planning (ITMP) is used to adjust activities in real time to accommodate children’s current needs, interests, schemas and characteristics of learning. Leuven Well-being and Involvement Scales are used to reflect on the children learning, we aim to achieve high levels of well-being and involvement, when this is not achieved, we move on to another activity, following child lead interests and then we reflect on our activity, to improve the Leuven Scale on this and similar activities.

An overview of some of the things we teach and learn:

Allotment garden

Encourages knowledge of the nature world, healthy eating, plant and insect life cycles.
Fruit, vegetable and herbs. Here we grow a selection of berries, beans and herbs. Children harvest berries for snack. Herbs are collected for sensory play. Beans and herbs are used to enhance meals and cooking.
Wormery, kitchen waste is broken down in the wormery to provide liquid fertilizer feed for our plants.
Compost bins, kitchen waste is broken down to produce compost to grow and feed our seeds and plants.

Main garden

Encourages gross motor skills, knowledge of the nature world and healthy eating.
Ten fruit trees that’s blossom let us know spring is here, a huge Magnolia tree that provides summer shade.
Rope swing to promote gross motor skills along with hand and arm strength. Children will be thrilled, we have reinstated our rope swing. Such equipment is great for strengthening muscles in arms and shoulders which leads to better pencil control.
Bug, bee and bird boxes and feeders to encourage insects and wild life into the garden.
Greenhouse to grow and protect our seedlings and plants as they grow.
Garden box and bin full of toys, bats, balls, ropes etc

Main playroom

Lots of toys and resources to teach the EYFS curriculum and support parents with home learning ideas and worksheets.
Sink, hand washing station, soap and paper towel for hygiene and independent hand washing.
CD player, nursery rhymes, stories, times tables, Jolly Phonics, Spanish, music and dancing.
Large table for themes, children’s current interests and arts and crafts.
Building bloks, messy play / sensory table.
Easel for marking making with paint brush and water, chalk, paint and sticking and gluing while standing.
Kitchen, laminated recipe cards, used containers with different smells from home cooking.
TV with Netflix, Google, Wii, PS2. Teach technology, educate with nursery rhymes, Jolly Phonics, dual languages and PS2 sing star, understand the world with documentaries with David Attenborough Our Planet and Brian Cox Universe, Gross motor skills with kids yoga, Wii fit and PS2 dance mats.
Unit for themes and to follow children’s interests.
Loose parts to encourage imagination, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and social interaction
Dressing up for school readiness, gross and fine motor skills.
Mark making and Arts and craft area to strengthen hands, ready for writing skills.
Reading tent, with comfy cushions and a selection of books for current week.

07956 888 480 couttschildcare@yahoo.com

Check us out on Facebook www.facebook.com/CouttsChildcare

Coutts Childcare 07956 888 480