Building a strong foundation:
Utilising the Curiosity approach & Forestry schooling
At Wiz Kidz Inc, we believe in a holistic approach to education that focuses on developing the whole child. Our curriculum is designed to foster children's social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development, providing a well-rounded education that prepares them for a lifetime of learning.
We understand that children learn best through play-based exploration and discovery, and our curriculum is designed to provide plenty of opportunities for hands-on learning and discovery. We use a variety of teaching strategies and materials, including books, games, music, and art, to engage children's curiosity and promote their love of learning.
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Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sets out the standards for learning, development, and care for children from birth to five years old. The EYFS framework is organized around seven areas of learning, including:
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Communication and Language
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Physical Development
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Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Understanding the World
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Expressive Arts and Design
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Our curriculum is designed to cover all of these areas of learning, providing a well-rounded education that prepares children for a successful transition to primary school.
We believe that children learn best when they feel safe, loved, and supported, and we prioritize creating a warm and welcoming environment that encourages children to take risks and explore new ideas. We also believe in building strong partnerships with parents and involve them in their child's learning and development, providing regular updates and opportunities to discuss their child's progress.
At Wiz Kidz Inc, we are committed to providing a high-quality, play-based curriculum that fosters children's love of learning and prepares them for a successful future.
Our curriculum is play-based, which means that we use a range of engaging and stimulating activities to help children learn through exploration and discovery. We believe that children learn best when they are active participants in their learning, and we encourage them to ask questions, experiment, and solve problems independently.
Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sets out the standards for learning, development, and care for children from birth to five years old. The EYFS framework is organized around seven areas of learning, which include both specific areas, such as Literacy and Mathematics, and prime areas, such as Personal, Social, and Emotional Development and Communication and Language.
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In addition to these areas of learning, we also prioritize developing children's creativity and imagination through expressive arts and design. We believe that creative expression is essential for children's holistic development, and we provide a range of opportunities for children to explore their creative side, such as music, dance, drama, and visual arts.
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At Wiz Kidz inc, we are committed to providing a high-quality, play-based curriculum that fosters children's love of learning and prepares them for a successful future. We believe that every child has the potential to learn and grow, and we are dedicated to unlocking that potential in every child who enters our nursery.
Preparing for school.
We understand that preparing for school is an exciting but sometimes daunting milestone in a child's life. We are committed to helping each child feel confident, capable, and ready to take on the challenges of primary school.
Our staff understand that each child has their unique strengths and challenges, and they work closely with parents to provide tailored support to meet each child's needs. We take the time to get to know each child individually, building positive relationships based on trust, respect, and empathy.
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We know that children learn best through play-based exploration and discovery, and our curriculum is designed to engage and excite children about learning. We use a range of interactive and hands-on activities to develop children's literacy and numeracy skills, such as storytelling, singing, and counting games.
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We also prioritize developing children's social and emotional skills, such as communication, self-regulation, and empathy. We provide plenty of opportunities for children to practice and develop these skills, such as group activities, games, and problem-solving exercises.
We understand that the transition to primary school can be an emotional time for both children and parents, and we are here to support families every step of the way. We work closely with local schools to ensure that children's transition to primary school is as smooth as possible, and we provide regular updates and communication to parents to ensure they are informed and reassured.
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At Wiz Kidz Inc, we are passionate about providing a nurturing and supportive environment that prepares children for success in primary school and beyond. We believe in the potential of each child and are committed to helping them achieve their full potential. We can't wait to join you on this exciting journey
Early Years.
We believe that providing a supportive and stimulating environment is essential for children's development in the early years. We focus on developing children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive skills through a range of interactive and engaging activities. We prioritize communication and language development, physical development, and social and emotional development. We work closely with parents to understand each child's unique needs and provide tailored support. Our goal is to prepare children for a successful future and help them reach their full potential.
Curiosity approach
In the nursery curiosity approach, play materials are carefully selected to stimulate a child's imagination, creativity, and curiosity. Open-ended and natural materials, such as wooden blocks, colorful scarves, shells, stones, and clay, are favored over plastic toys with limited functions. These materials encourage exploration and allow children to use them in diverse ways, promoting problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
Regarding decor, the nursery environment is typically designed to be warm, inviting, and organized. Nature-inspired elements, like plants, natural lighting, and earthy colors, create a soothing atmosphere. Flexible and cozy spaces are incorporated to encourage free movement and exploration, while displays of children's artwork and projects celebrate their achievements and efforts, promoting a sense of ownership and pride in their learning environment.
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What is the curiosity approach:
A curiosity approach nursery would likely have a visually stimulating and inviting environment that encourages exploration and learning. It might include natural elements like plants, soft colors, and plenty of natural light. There could be various hands-on activities, open-ended materials, and interactive learning spaces to pique children's curiosity.
Additionally, you might find cozy reading corners, creative art stations, and spaces for imaginative play to foster a sense of wonder and discovery. The overall design would focus on promoting exploration, creativity, and a love for learning.
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The Benefits:
Having a curiosity-based approach in a nursery setting can be highly beneficial for children's development. It encourages them to explore, discover, and ask questions, fostering a love for learning from an early age. Curiosity-driven learning helps in developing critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and creativity. It also promotes a positive attitude towards education and helps children become more independent and self-motivated learners. Overall, a curiosity-based approach in a nursery can create a stimulating and engaging environment, laying a strong foundation for future learning and personal growth.
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Forestry Schooling
Forest School is a child-centred learning process, providing learner inspired, hands-on experiences in the natural environment. It’s creative and can increase a child’s confidence as they problem-solve and learn to manage risks.
* It is an ethos and philosophy. It promotes self-esteem, creativity, confidence, play and a child-centred learning approach.
* It is learner-centred, focusing on the curiosity of the child rather than tasks to be finished; it’s holistic learning that helps the child to grow socially, emotionally & physically.
* It enables children to get outside of the classroom, direct their own learning & exploration & build relationships over time.
* It is a long-term approach to learning, not just a one-off session, with a recommended minimum of 24 weeks but ideally a lot more. The longevity of Forestry Schooling ensures that the establishment of boundaries feels safe & secure for the children. It takes time to get to know people & create a trusting community, expecting children to get the benefits of this over a few sessions will just add more pressure.
* While ‘forest’ may be in the name, it’s not a requirement to have access to a forest. Whilst woodlands provide an ideal environment for Forest School because of their diversity and opportunities for exploration, it can be practiced on a beach or any other outdoor environment. You don’t have to ‘go’ to the forest – the scrubland beside the school is fine.
* It provides opportunities for supported risk-taking & often includes the use of knives, fire, & outdoor shelters.
Forestry schooling encourages children to explore the natural environment and learn in it, & recognises the importance of play as essential for the healthy development of a child’s brain, enabling problem-solving, building confidence & resilience, & contributes to a range of emotional, cognitive, physical & emotional developments.
