Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum is the statutory framework that sets out children’s learning and development in the Foundation Stage.  It gives children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. 

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of learning and development.

Children should mostly develop the three prime areas first:

Communication and language;

Physical development;

Personal, social and emotional development.

These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.   As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas:

Literacy;

Mathematics;

Understanding the world;

Expressive arts and design.

These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities which are tailored to suit your child’s individual needs.  The curriculum is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

At the end of the EYFS – in the summer term of the reception year in school – teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile. This assessment is carried out by the reception teacher and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over a period of time.

We consider ourselves partners in your child’s learning.  The activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and development, and have a really long lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress through school.  For example, talking, listening, reading, singing nursery rhymes, cooking and baking or playing outside with them.

You can find out more about the Early Years Foundation Stage which includes the Early Learning Goals at www.foundationyears.org.uk. The Foundation Year’s website also includes a range of resources and contacts.

 

Nursery and Preschool

At St Mary's School, we offer high-quality Early Years provision for children age  2 - 4, delivered by a Qualified Teacher and experienced Teaching Assistants.

We pride ourselves on providing well-planned, organised and stimulating play and some adult-based curriculum filled with exciting, creative and hands-on learning experiences. We deliver our curriculum inside our resourceful classroom as well as our spacious outdoor area and extensive school grounds. Our Nursery children are very much part of our caring school community and enjoy taking part in whole-school events.

We provide parents with digital access to their child's learning  journey, which includes photographs and notes of your child's engagement in their learning through their Tapestry Online Journal. We also welcome parents' contributions to their child's online learning journal and enjoy working in partnership with parents.

Free Nursery Hours for 2 and 3-Year-Olds

We are delighted to offer free funded nursery places for eligible 2 and 3-year-old children.

Our nursery provides a safe, caring, and stimulating environment where children can learn, play, and grow. Funded hours give families the opportunity to access high-quality early education and care, helping to prepare children for a smooth transition into school life.

If you would like to find out more about eligibility and how to apply, please contact our school office or visit the government’s childcare funding website for further information.

 

Reception

The Reception year is a really important year in a child’s school life, it helps form the foundations for learning, children receive essential learning experiences and at this age it is a crucial stage for development.  We have lots of exciting things to look forward to and we enjoy being a part of your child’s journey through Reception.

Play and Exploration is a fundamental within Early Years. It means children are able to choose activities where they can  engage with other children or adults or sometimes play alone. During these activities the children will learn by first-hand  experiences; by actively ‘doing’ as well as through   scaffolding and modelling by adults. We will provide them with sufficient space, both indoors and outdoors, time and choice with a range of activities. There will be a good variety of planned and prepared activities by the teachers, as well as allowing time for the children to initiate their own learning. Activities will be planned through discussion with the children around their current interests, as well as taking into account their learning styles and stages of development. Our environment will enable children to try things out and make sense of relationships, allowing all children to fulfil their potential.

We provide parents with digital access to their child's learning  journey, which includes   photographs and notes of your child's engagement in their learning through their Tapestry Online Journal. We also welcome parents' contributions to their child's online learning journal and enjoy working in partnership with parents.

We welcome school visits and are always happy to show you around our friendly school and nurturing Early Years environment.