How Little Mowgli Nursery in Leyland Supports the Prime Areas of EYFS
Creating a strong foundation for your child’s early years is crucial for shaping their development and a lifelong love of learning. That’s why the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework exists—to ensure children are supported in all facets of their early development.
At Little Mowgli Nursery, a trusted nursery in Leyland, children are nurtured, challenged, and encouraged to grow in a safe and stimulating environment. Little Mowgli places the EYFS’s prime areas of learning at the heart of their teaching philosophy, ensuring each child develops holistically during these formative years.
This blog post explores the EYFS prime areas of learning. It reveals how Little Mowgli Nursery actively supports Personal, Social, and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, and Physical Development through specialized activities, expert care, and a commitment to excellence.
What Are the EYFS Prime Areas of Learning?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a framework that provides guidelines and benchmarks for early years education in the UK. It encompasses seven areas of learning, with three of them categorized as prime areas. These prime areas are essential for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning while forming a foundation for healthy development.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
This area focuses on helping children build relationships, develop a sense of self, manage emotions, and cultivate social skills. It lays the groundwork for healthy interactions and independence.
Examples of what PSED involves:
- Learning how to share and take turns.
- Identifying and managing emotions such as frustration or excitement.
- Developing self-confidence and decision-making abilities.
Communication and Language (CL)
This area is all about encouraging children to articulate their thoughts and understand what others are saying. It emphasizes listening, speaking, and comprehension.
Examples of what CL involves:
- Listening to stories and participating in interactive discussions.
- Expanding vocabulary through conversations and exposure to new words.
- Encouraging non-verbal communication, such as gestures and facial expressions.
Physical Development (PD)
Physical development enables children to be active and make healthy lifestyle choices as they build their fine and gross motor skills.
Examples of what PD involves:
- Learning skills such as running, jumping, and climbing to develop gross motor abilities.
- Writing, drawing, and manipulating small objects to fine-tune fine motor skills.
- Cultivating healthy habits around eating, hygiene, and physical activity.
At Little Mowgli Nursery in Leyland, these prime areas are theoretical concepts embedded into daily life, forming the backbone of every activity, program, and interaction. Here’s how Little Mowgli supports each of these areas.
How Little Mowgli Nursery Supports Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (PSED) is paramount at Little Mowgli Nursery, as they believe confident, emotionally intelligent children are better equipped to face life’s challenges. The nursery fosters this by creating a nurturing environment where children feel valued and secure.
1. Building Relationships Through Play
Little Mowgli encourages children to participate in interactive group activities like role-playing games and collaborative art projects. These help children understand the importance of teamwork, empathy, and sharing.
For example:
- Role-playing activities like “playing shop” teach children about cooperation and taking turns.
- Group storytelling sessions encourage kids to listen to their peers and contribute their ideas.
Reletabl:-What Are the Prime Areas of Learning in the EYFS Framework?
2. Emotional Literacy Activities
Understanding and expressing emotions is a skill children develop gradually. At Little Mowgli, tools such as emotion cards and relatable story books help children identify feelings like happiness, anger, and sadness. Educators guide children to verbalize their emotions, ensuring conflicts are resolved peacefully.
3. Opportunities for Independence
Whether putting on their coats, tidying up after snack time, or choosing activities, children are consistently given opportunities to build their independence. Over time, these small acts empower children and boost their confidence.
Little Mowgli also ensures a positive environment by offering encouragement and celebrating achievements, big or small. This nurturing atmosphere makes children feel more at ease while exploring their world and interacting with others.
How Little Mowgli Nursery Supports Communication and Language
Effective communication is a crucial life skill. Little Mowgli is deeply committed to fostering strong communication and language skills in every child, creating confident speakers and attentive listeners.
1. Storytime Magic
One of the highlights of the day at Little Mowgli is storytime. The nurturing staff reads aloud engaging tales, using animated expressions and props to captivate the children. Afterward, they encourage interactive discussions where children share thoughts or predict what will happen next.
2. Expanding Vocabulary with Real-World Learning
Little Mowgli integrates real-world topics into the curriculum to introduce children to new vocabulary. For instance:
- A weekly “Big Animal Week” could involve learning about elephants or giraffes and using descriptive words like “tall,” “enormous,” or “striped.”
- Themed sensory exploration corners allow children to interact with objects and materials while learning the language to describe them. Words like “smooth,” “bumpy,” or “sticky” come alive.
3. Encouraging Two-Way Communication
Staff at Little Mowgli actively model good conversational habits by maintaining eye contact, asking open-ended questions, and giving the children ample time to respond. This encourages the children to engage in thoughtful exchanges.
4. Singing and Rhymes
Children love music and rhymes, which are powerful tools for language learning. Nursery rhymes and action songs help them link words to meanings and actions, improving their memory and vocabulary.
By embedding communication into every activity, Little Mowgli ensures children develop strong verbal and non-verbal language skills that are vital building blocks for their future.
How Little Mowgli Nursery Supports Physical Development
Physical activity isn’t just about running or jumping at Little Mowgli Nursery; it’s about developing coordination, motor skills, and healthy lifelong habits in a fun and engaging way.
1. Outdoor Adventures
Little Mowgli has a secure outdoor play area with climbing frames, slides, and balance beams. These provide ample opportunities for children to build gross motor skills and strengthen muscle coordination.
Activities include:
- Obstacle courses that combine climbing, crawling, and jumping.
- Nature walks where children collect leaves and pebbles, sharpening their fine motor skills.
2. Creative Physical Activities Indoors
Rainy days don’t dampen the fun at Little Mowgli! Indoor yoga and dance classes help children improve both motor control and mindfulness. These playful and interactive classes keep children energized while teaching them body awareness and balance.
3. Fine Motor Skills Development
Building fine motor skills is equally important. Little Mowgli introduces activities like:
- Threading beads to make necklaces.
- Painting with brushes to practice grip and wrist movements.
- Cutting paper with child-safe scissors to enhance hand-eye coordination.
4. Healthy Living Education
Staff engage children in discussions about nutrition, hygiene, and staying active. For example, Little Mowgli includes cooking sessions where children make healthy snacks like fruit kebabs or sandwiches. This not only enhances their motor skills but also their understanding of making better lifestyle choices.
With a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor activities, Little Mowgli ensures children develop strength and agility, setting the stage for future physical well-being.
Why Little Mowgli Nursery Is the Right Choice for Your Child
The EYFS prime areas of learning serve as a foundation for Little Mowgli Nursery’s approach to child development. By nurturing personal, social, and emotional development, enhancing communication and language skills, and promoting physical development, the nursery sets children up for success in school and beyond.
Little Mowgli is more than just a nursery in Leyland. It’s a caring, stimulating environment where children thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually. Trust the experienced team at Little Mowgli Nursery to provide a well-rounded start to your child’s early years.
If you’re ready to see how Little Mowgli can help your child grow, get in touch to arrange a visit. Join a community of parents who have experienced firsthand the nurturing care and commitment to excellence that Little Mowgli Nursery is known for.