At Mary Kelly's Rascals we have designed and implemented our own Curriculum. It is based on the Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) but we also considered areas in the Birth to 5 Matters (2021) and Birth to 3 Matters (2003) to build our Curriculum.

All our early years practitioners have been involved in writing the curriculum, making it tailored to the specific needs of our children and ensures teaching and learning is consistent. 

We regularly re-visit the Curriculum to see how it is going and make changes to meet the needs of our children at that time and make room for new topics that are relevant.

Our curriculum supports ‘in the moment planning’ which we believe is the best way that children learn and develop as it is based on their interests and level of development. Research shows play takes a vital role in the children’s learning and development.

At Mary Kelly’s Rascals we provide resources that are accessible to the children and are varied, we also use natural and open-ended resources (loose parts). Open ended resources allow children to explore their opportunities and functions, it doesn’t have a specific goal or outcome or use. However, there are many skills learnt through play: -

• Develop language use
• Increase engagement level
• Develop imagination
• Develop fine and gross motor skills
• Develop an understanding of risk
• Develop sense of self
• Engage in schema play

Our creative practitioners embellish and fascinate children by using creativity and imagination to extend their experiences and bring fun to their daily lives. Babies and young children are experiencing and learning in the here and now, not storing up the questions until tomorrow or next week. It is in that moment of curiosity, puzzlement, effort or interest ‘the teachable moment’ that our skilful practitioner makes a difference.