Early Years

The school’s early years foundation stage is a time when children are nurtured into our school community, laying the foundations for their time at the school and for their future learning. Working closely with families and preschools, we aim to provide a smooth transition for your child’s start at school, helping them to settle quickly and enjoy the new and exciting opportunities they will experience. Building relationships and developing confidence are key aspects at this stage, enabling your child to develop friendships, build bonds with their teachers and to feel valued as individuals. Children will benefit from a large, open plan classroom environment, supplemented by our early years outdoor area, both of which are designed along Reggio Emilia principles to encourage interactions and explorations. Children’s learning experiences are developed in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), focused upon the seven key areas of learning:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Learning is developed within these areas through a balance of child-initiated experiences (TED) and through direct teaching where appropriate, for example, regular phonics sessions. Children’s writing skills and mathematical development are supported within small groups, enabling focused guidance and support from the teacher. Children in foundation take part in the school’s Learning Adventures from the very beginning of their time at the school, and as the year progresses, there will be opportunities for them to collaborate on projects with children from other year groups and to take part in the rich variety of school events that take place. Through our nurturing and relationship focused approach, we aim to make this important year a time of wonder and discovery for all children.

For details of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, please click here