Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage environment provides cognitive and physical challenge for all through stimulating provision, rich in problem solving resources and opportunities for open-ended activities that demand critical thinking. These will be accessed over extended periods, allowing depth and breadth of learning to take place. The role of the adult is crucial in spotting teaching opportunities and extending the learning.

A safe and happy environment

We create a safe and happy environment with motivating and enjoyable learning experiences that enable children to become confident and independent. We value the children as individuals and work alongside parents and carers to meet each child’s needs, in order for them to reach their full potential.

We plan an exciting and challenging curriculum based on our observation of children’s needs, interests, and stages of development across the seven areas of learning.

The seven areas of learning are:

Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Literacy
Mathematical Development
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

EARLY YEARS POLICYDEVELOPMENT MATTERS – NON-STATUTORY

CURRICULUM GUIDANCE FOR THE EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE

All seven areas are important and inter-connected and are therefore taught with a cross curricular approach. It is also important that opportunities for children to use and build on their Characteristics of Learning (playing and exploring, active learning and critical thinking), are specifically planned for.

Please click on the button below for details of our Curriculum. Here you will find the rationale for why we do what we do and how the children learn in the EYFS.

EYFS CURRICULUM

Children and families meet school staff, through home visits and welcome sessions, before children join Nursery or Reception. This allows children to make relationships and feel secure in their new environment.

Early Years staff work in partnership with parents, passing information about learning progress between home and school through face-to-face conversations and regular Padlet updates.

Learning Journals and assessment

We want to make sure parents are kept up to date with what’s going on in Reception so we have a Padlet page that is updated weekly. It contains news, important dates, and a summary of the learning for the week. There are also ideas for how you can support your children’s learning at home. The reception team will send you the link for this Padlet at the start of the year.

We follow the statutory guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage. At the end of their Reception year the children will be assessed against the Early Learning Goals, which can also be found below.