One Step Ahead

At Nanny McFiFi's, we’re proud to provide your children with a caring and safe environment. By following our mission, vision and values, we create a nurturing, stimulating and welcoming learning environment for all children

What is Early Years at Nanny McFiFi’s Childcare?

The early years are the most important part of a child’s life. It equips them with the skills they need for the rest of their educational journey.  At Nanny McFiFi’s, we strive to build their confidence, promote a positive mindset and support their early steps into education whilst ensuring the children are given the nurturing and quality care that they would expect from their caregivers at home.

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 The Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage is based on four components: a unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development. The 7 areas of learning, .3 prime areas and 4 specific areas.

Areas of Learning, Prime Areas
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)Physical DevelopmentCommunication and LanguageSpecific AreasLiteracyMathematicsUnderstanding the WorldExpressive Art and DesignThe prime areas develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences and run through all other areas. The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge. 

 Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Making RelationshipsSelf Confidence and Self AwarenessManaging Feelings and BehaviourInvolves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their abilities.

Physical Development Moving and Handling Health and Self-Care
Involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their coordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices concerning food.

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 Communication and Language
Listening and AttentionUnderstandingSpeakingInvolves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

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Literacy Reading Writing
Involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.

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 Mathematics Number Shape, Space and Measure
Involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and describing shapes, spaces, and measures.

Understanding the World
People and CommunitiesThe WorldTechnologyInvolves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

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Expressive Art and Design
Exploring Media and MaterialsBeing ImaginativeInvolves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

 Characteristics of Effective Learning
When planning children’s activities we must look at how each child learns about the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning.  We do this by getting to know the children and offering a ‘child-led’ approach to learning. Playing and Exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’Active Learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements. Creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

 Learning through PlayPlay is vital in the early years and it’s important to learn the value of turn-taking, being a good friend and helping each other succeed.  Play can support all of this.  At Nanny McFiFi’s, we mix child-led and adult-led activities to master the skills needed for life and to promote a school-ready attitude to encourage positive experiences and to enjoy learning.