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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
At our school, we recognise the Early Years Foundation Stage as a crucial and formative phase in a child’s education. Our EYFS curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and carefully designed to meet the individual needs, interests and starting points of all children, ensuring that every child is supported to flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. We aim to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where children feel safe, valued, and confident to explore, question and learn. It is important to us that children in our EYFS enjoy developing their skills, knowledge and understanding whilst becoming increasingly independent.
Rooted in our Christian ethos, our curriculum is enhanced by our school values of friendship and forgiveness, courage and creativity, respect and responsibility, trust and tenacity. These values are modelled and explicitly taught through daily routines, interactions and learning experiences, helping children to develop strong moral foundations, positive relationships, and a sense of belonging within our school community.
Our EYFS curriculum follows the statutory framework and encompasses the seven areas of learning and development. We prioritise the prime areas of Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Physical Development, recognising that these are essential for children’s success across all areas of learning. A strong focus is placed on developing children’s confidence, self-regulation, independence, and early language skills, ensuring that gaps in development are identified early and addressed effectively.
Alongside this, children are supported to build secure foundations in the specific areas of Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. Through high-quality texts, purposeful mark-making, early phonics and number experiences, children develop the key knowledge and skills needed for future learning. Opportunities to explore the wider world, celebrate diversity and engage creatively enable children to make sense of their experiences and develop curiosity, imagination, and respect for others.
We believe that children learn best through a balance of structured teaching and carefully planned play-based experiences. Learning is responsive to children’s interests and informed by ongoing assessment, allowing practitioners to support, consolidate and deepen learning over time. Our Rainbow Challenge promotes independence and choice, while a Growth Mindset approach encourages children to persevere, reflect and take pride in their achievements.
Partnerships with parents and carers are central to our EYFS provision. We value the role families play in supporting learning and development and work closely with them to foster positive attitudes towards learning both at home and in school. Regular communication through our open-door policy, induction process, regular workshops, parents evenings and Tapestry learning journey ensures that children’s progress, wellbeing and next steps are shared and celebrated.
Children’s physical and emotional wellbeing is a key priority. Regular outdoor learning and weekly P.E. sessions support children to lead happy, healthy, and active lives. Strong, trusting relationships with familiar adults ensure children feel secure and supported, enabling them to manage their emotions, build resilience and develop confidence.
Our curriculum also supports children in developing an understanding of their role and the diversity within our society. Through age-appropriate experiences and educational visits, the children then have first-hand experiences, enriching and enhancing the EYFS curriculum. This then prepares them to contribute positively to modern Britain and the wider world.
By the end of the Foundation Stage, our aim is for children to make at least good progress from their individual starting points. Our Early Years curriculum is inclusive of children with special educational needs (SEND). A focus on regular retrieval practice and over-learning of knowledge enables SEND children to retain knowledge, vocabulary and make progress. We aim for children to leave our EYFS as confident, resilient, and enthusiastic learners, equipped with the skills, knowledge, and values they need to succeed in the next stage of their education and beyond.