Early Years Foundation Stage
Children begin learning with us in our Nursery and Reception classes. Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a nurturing and stimulating educational setting that values every child’s needs, interests and development. The children have space to play, learn and develop the key early learning attitudes and behaviours, whilst being taught by early years’ teachers and practitioners. Our indoor and outdoor facilities gives each child the opportunity to explore, revisit and play in an environment that is tailored to early learners. This gives the children the best start in an environment that is safe and inspiring so that they develop curiosity, independence, confidence and early learning knowledge and skills.
Our Early Years Curriculum is broad, balanced and highly motivating. This encourages our youngest learners to be curious, confident and competent. Through our curriculum and approach, we aim for all children to be ready for Year 1 as they leave Reception. This demands a curriculum that is designed to nurture their confidence and independence, develop their language and social skills and teach the early skills in reading, writing and maths.
There are seven key areas of learning and development:
Prime Areas act as the foundation for all learning and develop from positive relationships and experiences. They allow children to access all other areas of learning and acquisition of knowledge, skills and understanding.
- Personal, Social and Emotional
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language
Specific Areas provide experiences that broaden children’s knowledge and skills.
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
We place a special emphasis on communication, language and literacy during the early years by providing a language rich environment and curriculum. Phonics and Early Reading are prioritised as areas of learning in Reception. Children benefit from the Little Wandle Revised Letters and Sounds Phonics programme as well as a rich diet of literacy based learning, shared and home reading experiences to develop a pleasure and competency in reading.
We prioritise the happiness and wellbeing of our children. This approach is based on the knowledge that children learn and develop faster when they are happy and secure. We work towards excellent social and personal skills, high self-esteem and emotional literacy with all our children.