The Happy Stars Curriculum

Our Philosophy

At Happy Stars Preschool, we work together to support every child in building the strong foundations and first steps needed to become confident, capable and independent learners.

 

The first five years of a child's life are crucial to their future development. We believe every child deserves a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment where they feel valued and respected, and where they are encouraged to explore, investigate, question and learn without fear of judgement.

 

By following an In the Moment Planning approach alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the seven areas of learning:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

children are empowered to make choices about their own learning through self-selected play and exploration.

 

This child-led approach helps to develop confidence, resilience, independence and a positive "can-do" attitude. Our skilled practitioners build upon children's interests and spontaneous learning opportunities, supporting them to develop new skills, challenge themselves and celebrate their achievements.

 

Our aim is for every child to leave Happy Stars Preschool as a confident, curious and independent learner, equipped with the skills and self-belief needed for a successful transition to school and beyond.

Learning Through Play

At Happy Stars Preschool, we believe children learn best when they are trusted to follow their own ideas, interests and curiosity. We provide opportunities for children to explore and play with a wide range of everyday resources and experiences that they may not always have access to at home. Through role play and real-life experiences, children often imitate and recreate what they see adults doing, helping them to make sense of the world around them.

 

With the support and supervision of our experienced practitioners, children are encouraged to develop essential life skills, including:

  • Preparing their own snack
  • Learning to dress themselves independently
  • Understanding and managing their own emotions
  • Recognising and respecting the feelings of others
  • Building teamwork and cooperation skills
  • Developing communication and language skills
  • Forming positive friendships and relationships
  • Problem-solving and making decisions

Through repetitive play and hands-on experiences, children continually build upon their confidence, independence and resilience. Each new experience provides opportunities to practise, refine and strengthen existing skills while developing new ones.

 

We believe these fundamental skills are vital in preparing children for their transition to school and supporting their future learning journey. More importantly, they provide strong foundations that continue to benefit children throughout their lives and into adulthood.

How We Support Learning

At Happy Stars Preschool, we promote learning through a balance of both adult-led activities and child-led play.

Using our In the Moment Planning approach, we encourage children to lead their own learning by following their interests, ideas and curiosity. This approach supports children's development, boosts confidence and promotes independence, enabling them to become active participants in their own learning journey.

Following the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, each child is assigned a key person who takes time to observe, engage and identify the child's interests in the moment. These observations are then used to inform teaching, planning and next steps, ensuring learning opportunities are meaningful, engaging and tailored to each individual child.

Our practitioners complete activity planning based on the current interests and needs of their key children. Planning typically includes:

  • A creative or craft activity
  • A small group activity
  • A one-to-one activity

This approach ensures that all children have opportunities to engage with our weekly themes and experiences whilst developing important skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, creativity and independence.

Each child has their own Tapestry Learning Journal and individual learning folder. Throughout the year, key persons record observations and assessments to monitor progress and celebrate achievements. These records help us identify areas where additional support may be beneficial and enable us to plan personalised next steps that reflect each child's interests, strengths and stage of development.

By combining high-quality interactions, purposeful observations and child-led learning experiences, we create an environment where every child can thrive, develop confidence and build the foundations needed for a successful transition to school and lifelong learning.

The Impact

By the time a child leaves our setting, they will be:

  • A strong and confident communicator who can express their thoughts, ideas, needs and feelings effectively.
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  • A resilient and motivated individual who is willing to try new experiences, persevere through challenges and celebrate their achievements.
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  • A healthy and independent explorer who can make choices, manage age-appropriate self-care tasks and confidently engage with the world around them.
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  • An inquisitive and ambitious thinker who is curious, asks questions, solves problems and enjoys learning through discovery.

Our curriculum and approach to learning support children in developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for future success. As a result, children leave Happy Stars with the confidence, independence and emotional readiness required for a positive and successful transition to school.

We strive to nurture children who are happy, secure and ready to embrace the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in their learning journey.

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