Educators at MaryK’s focus on the child’s individual strengths, what they can do rather than what they can’t do. This is influenced by the Strengths-Based Approach. A core principle of MaryK’s is children learn by doing and this hands-on experience can be seen throughout the setting from 6 months right up to school age.
Children are involved in every part of their day and are encouraged to do what they can for themselves, keeping in mind what is age and stage appropriate. The Early Years Educators follow an emergent curriculum and this means that activities are planned based on the interests, needs and capabilities of children and are flexible to allow for a range of different experiences.
Children have opportunity to state their intentions, execute their plans and recollect their experiences on a daily basis throughout the day at MaryKs promoting independence, achievement, concentration and self-confidence.
MaryK’s has a flexible fun-based partnership approach rather that an overly directive mind-set of the educators. All materials and interest areas are planned with the children in mind. They are age and stage appropriate and accessible to children.
Upcycling and the reusing of materials in different ways is a big part of MaryK’s and we are members of ReCreate (see ReCreate | Creativity through Reuse - Welcome to ReCreate Ireland for more information). There is a huge focus on natural and everyday found materials in our setting.
Children are always encouraged and supported to make choices and educators model positive behaviour and decisions. We endeavour to promote children to become confident and competent learners and promote the use of problem-solving. By using a problem-solving approach, children can contribute to solutions in matters that concern them.
Play underpins our entire approach to curriculum development. Play is vital in the Early Years.
For a more in-depth explanation of our approach or to see it in action, please contact us and we would be more than happy to arrange a viewing with you.
Síolta is the National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Care and Education in Ireland.
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Aistear is the National Early Childhood Curriculum framework and was developed by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment following a consultation with the Early Childhood Sector in 2009.
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A typical day at MaryK’s involves:
Interest areas in MaryK’s:
Babies, wobblers and toddlers are natural explorers. Their interactions with trusted adults provide the emotional fuel these very young children need to puzzle together the mysteries of the social and physical world. MaryK’s provides a range of strategies Educators can use in order to create supportive interactions with Baby, Wobblers and Toddlers.
Very young children are forming a sense of themselves and an understanding of what the world is all about. Their interactions with parents and caregivers significantly influence the life-long conclusions children draw from their experiences. If parents and caregivers interactions are supportive, this shapes children's perceptions of themselves as capable, trusted and trustworthy human beings.
As caregivers, the Educators at MaryK’s strive to form positive, reciprocal relationships in which encouragement is key. We cuddle, hold, play, and talk with children in a warm, unhurried, give-and-take manner. Guided by practical theories of child development, Educators attempt to see things from their perspective, encouraging rather than inhibiting children's effort and communications. We take cues from children rather than impose our own ideas and use a problem-solving approach to children's personal conflicts rather than solve their problems for them.
In MaryK’s Baby, Wobbler and Toddler rooms, Educators maintain the overall routine as consistently as possible, while being flexible to accommodate for the individual child’s natural rhythms and temperaments.
We operate a key worker system for all rooms so that children can gain a sense of security while being away from home.
Daily Schedule for Babies, Wobblers and Toddlers include:
The preschool curriculum is inspired by the children’s emergent interests. We aim to extend the children’s learning experiences and provide practical examples to support future life learning. Children learn through movement particularly movement of the hands, refinement of gross and fine motor skills are a part of everyday hands-on learning experiences. Everyday activities are inspired by practical life and sensorial play. Children are capable of self-learning and are intrinsically motivated to learn. Activities for the children are aesthetic and simple, move from simple to complex, and motivate the children to develop independence and concentration. The educators lead by example, aiming to help the children develop a sense of responsibility towards one-self, peers and the environment. We aim to support the children in developing confidence and a good self-image, important for preparing the child for future life. The curriculum encourages the children to explore the materials, ask questions and share ideas. The children’s interests serve as basis for curriculum development and are encompassed by Aistear’s 4 themes: Identity and Belonging, Well-Being, Exploring and Thinking and Communication. The impact of the physical environment is taken into consideration as the children feel like their environment truly belongs to them. Working hand in hand, the Educators and the environment provide the children with the freedom to explore and develop to their fullest potential while working with didactic materials, in groups and independently, within a prepared environment.
The learning environments have the following characteristics:
Interest Areas in MaryK’s Preschool include:
The learning environments have the following characteristics:
Interest Areas in MaryK’s Preschool include:
