Early Years Foundation Stage

We pride ourselves on providing the best possible start in a welcoming, friendly environment where our pupils can grow and learn. It is important that the first encounter young children and their parents have with school is a positive experience. 

Together we have created our EYFS vision which all staff live out in their daily practice. This vision supports our belief around supporting every child to flourish in their individual learning journey. Staff and pupils work closely together through a play based, child centred curriculum. We encourage pupils to develop essential skills they need to become independent, resilient and curious. Our EYFS vision can be found in the attachments below.

We aim to create a high quality teaching and learning environment, both indoors and outdoors, that is well-structured, purposeful, interesting and challenging. We plan using a topic based approach which provides opportunity for pupils to develop the basic skills such as reading, writing, phonics, number recognition and counting, and allows pupils to develop socially and emotionally as they form friendships and explore their feelings. Topics will be enhanced by the ideas and interests which pupils and staff bring to the learning environment. Each topic is driven by high quality texts to promote a love of reading and support
a growing understanding of key vocabulary.

The Early Years Foundation Stage learning environment will provide opportunities for pupils to ask and answer questions, explore, find out things, cooperate and solve problems through a range of different play based provision. Play based opportunities are provided through provision areas such as the sand, water, construction, small world, music, writing, maths, and many more.

The attachment below provides a long term planning overview of the topics and the focused areas which will be covered across the year in both Nursery and Reception.

For more information about the Early Years Foundation Stage please read the attached policies or visit https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage

During the first six weeks of the Autumn term pupils in Upper Foundation Stage (Reception) will complete the Reception Baseline Assessment. Information for parents about this process can be found via Reception baseline assessment: information for parents – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk

Nursery

Children who join our nursery will be growing in so many ways. They will be developing socially and emotionally, intellectually as well as physically. They will be gaining confidence, learning to experiment with new equipment and surroundings. They will be learning to concentrate a little longer on a task, to persevere and not give in when things get tricky.

Communication is vital for all areas of learning. We will support children to become effective communicators through clear modelling, discussion and talk and the introduction of key vocabulary. Our nursery has gained the ‘Communication Friendly Status’ award. Staff act as excellent role models and support children on their individual learning journey for communication.

Physical development will be seen throughout indoor and outdoor provision. Children will engage in active learning, by feeling, doing, and moving their body in a range of ways. Physical play brings adventure, excitement, and challenge to children. We will focus on children developing strong gross motor and fine motor skills. We will support children to develop their coordination, balance and core strength. We also take part in regular ‘Write Dance’ sessions to strengthen our arms, hands and fingers so that we are ready for mark making.

Social and emotional skills will be developed through working and playing together, taking turns and engaging with high quality texts to explore and discuss the emotions of different characters. Children will have the opportunity to express themselves in a variety of ways.

Children will develop creatively through exploring and enjoying themselves. They will be encouraged to use their ideas and imagination, through a wealth of opportunities where their achievements will be celebrated and displayed.

Exploring and investigating the world around them will develop your child’s intellectual ability. By using their senses to observe, investigate and discuss, they will have a broader knowledge and understanding of the world in which they live.

Each day the children will be singing, listening to stories, dressing up, playing with sand and water, making marks, talking and communicating, eating healthy snacks, drinking milk … and having lots of fun! Don’t you just wish you were three all over again!

30 hour provision

The school provides the extended entitlement of 30 hours for a limited number of places for eligible families. Children attending the 30 hour provision can attend the nursery from 8.30am– 2.30pm. There is also the option that parents can pay for their child to stay for an additional hour to the end of the nursery session, which finishes at 3.30pm. Children will therefore be staying for their lunch at the nursery and will need to bring a packed lunch from home.  We do not provide before or after school    provision, such as a breakfast club for our nursery children. Further information about the 30 hours provision can be found in the nursery admissions policy or you can ring to speak with our School Business Manager, Mrs Lisa Huskins.