Our vision
The Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years.
Our EYFS provision is built around a firm belief that children are uniquely capable, creative and intelligent. Our intent is to ensure we maximise each child’s learning and level of engagement through enabling environments, positive interaction and explorative play. We aim to develop and embed the foundations for our children to be successful learners and have a life-long love of learning through wonder, exploration and inspiration. There is a shared aim that every child will fall in love with reading and a recognition among all leaders and EY practitioners, that success in reading is the gateway to learning across their schooling. Good relationships with parents are important to us and the need for every child to feel safe, happy and secure lies at the heart of our EY provision.
We believe that all children deserve an education rich in wonder and memorable experiences that allows children’s natural creativity and curiosity to flourish, alongside the purposeful acquisition of skills and knowledge. We believe that an education that does all of this gives children the best chance to become well-rounded, happy individuals, ready to succeed in an ever-changing world.
It is our intent to provide children with a nurturing, supportive and safe environment where ALL children receive a creative, inspiring, challenging and purposeful curriculum, that provides them with the skills to be successful, confident and a life-long learner; by developing their physical, verbal, cognitive and emotional needs whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning.
Our curriculum
The Early Year Foundation Stage is a creative curriculum which allows young children to learn new skills and experiences through hands on, explorative play. We believe that high level engagement ensures high level attainment. We therefore provide an engaging curriculum that maximises opportunities for meaningful, cross-curricular links and learning experiences, as well as promoting the unique child by offering extended periods of play and sustained shared thinking.
Our curriculum seeks to allow opportunities for children to make links between their learning and understanding. New concepts are presented in a context the children understand to allow for a progressive curriculum that weaves in real first-hand experiences, opportunities and celebrations to build on children’s natural curiosity. We plan for both inside and outside classrooms and equal importance is given to learning in both areas. Research shows that children use five times as many words outside as they do inside.
Most importantly, our curriculum is purposeful and practical; embedded in play and provision. This allows us to respond to and extend our children’s learning, so they are intrinsically motivated and excited to come to school every day!
By the end of the Reception year, we aim to ensure that all children make at least good progress from their starting points and are equipped with the skills and knowledge to have a smooth transition into Year 1.