Curriculum

How we help children learn:

Unique child

Each child is unique and has their own learning needs and ways of exploring the world. Because of this, we combine child-led play with an adult-support role that is tailored to each individual.

Enabling Environments

Enabling environments are about ensuring children are able to learn and feel safe. We ensure lots of outdoor play, which offers sensory experiences, and encourages an active lifestyle with other benefits.

Positive relationships

We model and teach positive relationships that encourage the best in others to ensure that children learn to treat themselves and others with respect.

Early Skills

Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. Our educational framework covers critical key skills that help children to develop and start their formal education well.

A Unique Child

Areas of curriculum: being imaginative, physical development, communication and language

Why we care about this:

We believe that every child is uniquely made in the image of God and a gift to the world. Our approach to education recognises this by looking at the individual needs of every single child on their own terms, expecting every child to develop differently.

Sections

Enabling environments

Areas of curriculum: moving and handling, exploring and using materials, understanding the world.

Why we care about this:

Children under 5 primarily develop through sensory and practical engagement with the physical world. Research into child development has shown the enormous benefits of outdoor learning for supporting early years development. On top of the educational benefits, we are passionate about giving our children a love and appreciation for natural creation, and encouraging positive active lifestyles with plenty of time spent outdoors.

Positive relationships

Areas of curriculum: Listening and attention, managing feelings and behaviour, making relationships, self-confidence and awareness

Why we care about this:

As children develop, they learn about boundaries, the difference between right and wrong, and the need to consider the views and feelings, as well as needs and rights, of others and the impact that their behaviour has on other people. The development of these skills requires adult guidance to help encourage and model appropriate behaviours and to offer intervention and support when children struggle with conflict and emotional situations.

Early skills development

Areas of curriculum: Literacy, numeracy, people & communities, the world & technology

Why we care about this:

Child development between the ages of 0 to 5 sets the pattern for learning that carries into formal education. It is vitally important to ensure that all children are progressing in the key skills that will underpin the rest of their learning for life. At this early age, this includes speech and language development, a basic confidence in numbers, shapes and objects, and nurturing curiosity about the world with different classes of information outside of their daily knowledge.

Beach School

During your child's last year at St. Gabriel's, prior to going to school, they will have the opportunity to attend weekly Beach School sessions with our Level 3 Beach School Practitioner.

What is Beach School?:

Inspired by the principles of Forest School, Beach School is a child-led, nature-based learning approach that takes place on the beach and coastline. It's about providing children with a safe, stimulating, and natural environment where they can explore, discover, and learn at their own pace. Our qualified and experienced practitioners facilitate these sessions, ensuring a balance of structured activities and free, independent play.

The Benefits of attending Beach School Sessions:

Improved Physical Development: The beach is a natural playground! Children will engage in a variety of physical activities that build strength, coordination, and gross motor skills. Think about climbing over dunes, digging in the sand, balancing on rocks, and running along the shoreline. This active play is crucial for developing strong bodies.
Enhanced Emotional and Social Skills: Beach School fosters teamwork and collaboration. Children learn to share tools, work together to build sandcastles, and help each other navigate the environment. The open-ended nature of the beach allows for imaginative and cooperative play, which helps them develop empathy, communication skills, and confidence.
Boosted Cognitive Development: The beach is a rich learning environment. Children will engage in problem-solving activities like figuring out how to build a strong sandcastle that can withstand the waves or finding the best way to transport water from the sea to their digging site. They will also learn about cause and effect, patterns, and natural processes.
Increased Creativity and Imagination: With no pre-set toys, the beach becomes a blank canvas for a child's imagination. A stick can be a magic wand, a piece of driftwood a boat, and shells can become currency in an imaginary shop. This unstructured play encourages children to think outside the box and create their own stories and games.
A Deeper Connection to Nature: In a world dominated by screens, Beach School provides a vital opportunity for children to connect with the natural world. They will learn to appreciate the different textures of sand and pebbles, the sounds of the waves, and the feel of the wind. This early connection to nature is key to fostering a sense of responsibility and environmental stewardship in the future.
Improved Resilience and Risk-Taking: Our sessions are about supported risk-taking. Children learn to assess and manage risks, such as climbing a small rock or using a digging tool safely. This builds their resilience and gives them the confidence to try new things and overcome challenges