This programme follows the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2015
What is the National Curriculum Framework?
A document published in 2015 by the Department of Education, the Department of Social Development and UNICEF to give guidance to those caring for children from birth to four years.
Why do I need to know about the NCF?
The NCF sets out guidelines and developmental areas to help teachers and carers of young children.
How will using the NCF help me?
There may be many things you have not thought of that you could be doing to enrich the life and development of the children in your care.
With the NCF as a guide, you can become a better teacher and carer.
A child’s development has many different aspects. The ELDA’s help us to be aware of all these aspects and make sure we include them as we look after our young children.
The Thuto programme incorporates the 6 Early Learning Development Areas (ELDAs) which are:
1. Well-being
'I need to experience an environment where I can enjoy good health, nutrition, safety and security and where I can develop confidence and resilience. I want to be happy. This is my right. I am usually physically very active and my body is developing and growing rapidly. I need enough nutritious food. Proper health care and a safe environment are very important to ensure growth and development. This is my right.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
The child is dependent on the adults who care for him. By educating and developing an awareness of what a child needs in the adults who care for the child, the programme will improve the child’s well-being. A structured daily programme at a pre-school with routines, free play and teacher-directed learning activities will definitely make the child happier when at the school.
2. Identity and Belonging
'I need to experience an environment where I develop a strong sense of self, experience positive relationships and celebrate differences. Identity and belonging is strongly related to well-being. It is concerned with personal development, social development, secure relationships and celebrating differences. The stronger the child's identity and sense of belonging, the more resilient he or she will be.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
Through different opportunities for learning, the programme will build confidence and self-respect in the child as they experience success and develops skills. They will begin to understand their interests and abilities through exposure to different types of activities. Relationships with other children are strengthened through working in groups and playing together.
3. Communicating
'I need to experience an environment where I can learn to listen attentively, speak openly, learn to love books, stories and reading, record and write, and to get ready for formal reading and writing as I grow and develop.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
During the theme discussion the children will be able to practise listening skills and take part in a discussion which broadens their vocabulary and understanding. By watching and listening to adults the child learns to make sense of sounds. We encourage a daily story time to nurture a love of books and reading. By giving an opportunity for free drawing every day, the children will improve their pencil control and learn to draw things that are relevant to them, which is a way of recording. As they work through the activity sheets the children will learn many skills needed to learn to read and write such as:
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working from top to bottom and left to right,
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developing visual discrimination (to be able to see differences),
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improving fine motor skills through colouring, cutting and pasting.
4. Exploring Mathematics
'I need to experience an environment where I can find patterns, make connections, recognise relationships, work with numbers, sort out objects, match and classify things. This helps me to think, solve problems and ask questions.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
There are daily opportunities within the programme, in both the concrete activities and the Activity sheets, to do all the things mentioned above. This is a particular strength of the programme with many opportunities to:
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sort and classify,
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count,
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work with numbers,
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create patterns and sequences.
5. Creativity
'I need to experience an environment where I can identify challenges and problems, try out solutions in safety and freedom and experiment with play, make believe play, drawing, painting, cutting and pasting, modelling and music, rhythm, dance and drama.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
The programme has many suggestions for creative play and how to provide it on a limited budget. There are many opportunities for dance and drama and for each theme we suggest two low cost art activities with step-by-step instructions. These are activities for the children to do by themselves and so the creative process is more important than a perfectly finished product.
6. Knowledge and Understanding of the World
'I want to make sense of my world through active participation in my real world and through practical experiments. Please support my learning by providing me opportunities to learn about people, objects, places, plants and creatures from my natural environment.'
How does the ‘Thuto Ke Lesedi’ programme help the child in this ELDA?
Because the programme is theme based there are opportunities to explore and learn about many things from the world around us including: homes, transport, vegetables and fruit, the changing seasons, different animals, insects and sea creatures.