Early Childhood Pedagogy at Westfield Park Primary School
Early childhood classrooms at Westfield Park Primary School promote successful transitions from home to school. Staff pride themselves on the strong, collaborative relationships between students, families and the wider community. Our Reggio inspired classrooms use natural resources such as wooden tabletops, rugs, plants, and fabrics to reflect on the calm and engaging learning environments we have created. These help students to feel safe and secure whilst they are at school. All classrooms are well resourced, and the early childhood outdoor area has a newly built nature playground and yarning circle.
At Westfield Park, we utilise the Child and Parent Centre (CPC) as a way of supporting families with their child’s health and development in the early years. Developmentally appropriate practices are implemented allowing educators to nurture each child’s social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Authentic, meaningful learning experiences occur through planned and improvised play-based learning. Dedicated play spaces assist children to learn how to solve problems, persevere, compromise, and cooperate with others. Through play they practise and apply the skills they have learnt in the classroom. We use play as part of a balanced approach; alongside more explicit teaching and phonics instruction, it helps to keep every child engaged and striving to achieve their best.