As a school, we ensure that our standards remain high and that the children are receiving a broad-based education.

We have had three inspections, the most recent being in January 2004, when we achieved the maximum re-inspection period of 2-4 years. This means that, as a school, we meet the standards and requirements set by OFSTED for our 3 & 4 year olds to progress in Mathematics, Language, Personal and Social development, Knowledge and Understanding of the World, Creative and Physical Development. We hae Ofsted 'NATIONAL STANDARDS' inspections annually.

We are very aware as a school that these standards are good and beneficial to your child's pre-school education. It is important to remember though that if we, as adults, interfere too directly and too often, we interrupt a process of 'natural learning'. There is, however, a necessity to offer children healthy ground rules and simple boundaries to support and encourage positive behaviour patterns and development of 'skills for life'.

The way in which we lead the children towards the 'early learning goals' (suggested as goals to be reached by the end of the child's year in Reception) is to provide an environment that offers rich and varied experiences. In this we, and parents, are the 'sowers of the seeds'. With our sights on the different aspects of the curriculum we sow useful seeds in the child's environment, and gently guide the children as indirectly as possible, towards reaping their own harvest of knowledge and growth. In other words, facilitating a healthy foundation in development and learning through a variety of activities that build and consolidate.

We believe strongly that young children have the right to be free, to develop naturally and that they need our guidance, our respect, and our love. We see no need to test them relentlessly, to constantly monitor them, or to impose any other requirements on them other than the ones they are urging us to follow. These are the 'goals' that their own being recognises as essential for life and which we can recognise if we listen and watch with sensitivity and humility.

We do keep records on the children's learning and development to aid work as a team and to enable us to plan a creative programme, ensuring that no child is overlooked. All staff share planning, ideas and evaluation skills.

The above principles apply mostly to the early years and it is these children that must be allowed to enjoy their childhood as the unique time it is, to play, to laugh, to relate and to unfold their own personalities and potential.

Explorers' Curriculum

In our Explorers class, with the children being that little bit younger, we plan their sessions in line with SureStart's "Birth to Three Matters" programme, which take into account the development of the younger child. Once the children in this class turn three, they will begin their journey on the Foundation Stage Curriculum.

It is worth remembering that all children are different and grow and develop at varying rates. Which is why, at Discovery, we do not make comparisons between children; we look at each child individually and meet the needs of that child.