Welcome to

Early Years Foundation Stage

Class Teachers: Mrs Rodgers and Miss Taylor

Supported by Miss Lindley, Miss Derbyshire and Miss Phillips

In Early Years at St Mary's, we follow the EYFS statutory framework which is based upon four themes and principles which shapes the way in which we teach.

These are:

• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured

• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships

• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.

• Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)

Intent

In Foundation Stage it is imperative that we lay secure foundations for learning across the curriculum, giving children the very best start. At St Mary’s we provide a board and balanced curriculum that excites the children, motivates them and ignites their love of learning. 

Implementation
Our curriculum is designed for the children of St Mary’s Catholic primary School. It is language rich and book led, but also designed to be flexible to meet the evolving interests of the children. The progression of skills and knowledge has been carefully mapped out to ensure children are able to practise and apply what they can do and what they know in a variety of contexts. This prepares them for future challenges, the key stage one curriculum and to be life-long learners.

Play is imperative and through purposely planned provision, children practise, apply and embed what they have been taught, whilst building upon these ideas to discover new learning. Children are given opportunities to take the lead, follow their ideas and be inquizative and this is supported by high quality interactions with adults. Children develop skills in resilience, problem solving, working collaboratively  and thinking critically - these characteristics support children in become effective learners and leads to them aspiring to be the best they can be. 

Positive relationships with children are integral part of the practise at St Mary’s and form the calm and happy ethos in which children learn. Relationships with parents are vital and parents are encouraged to be part of their children’s learning journey in Foundation Stage and throughout their time at school.

Teaching occurs in a combination of whole class and small group dependent on the stage in which children are at, on the activity and the needs of the individual child. Learning is exciting and provision sparks curiosity and wonder leading to the development of the characteristics of effective learning and wonderful little learners.

Impact

All children will leave Foundation Stage having had the very best start to their learning adventure. They will have fond memories of exciting experiences and will have developed a real love of learning. They will have learned to persevere and be resilient in the face of challenge, concentrate and try new things, bounce back from set-backs and think critically and creatively when making decisions. They will be able to communicate effectively and will have made positive relationships with peers and adults. All children will leave Foundation Stage with the skills and knowledge that will support them in being able to access the Key Stage One curriculum and to become life-long learners.

Assessment

Assessment is embedded into our daily practise and these formative assessment inform future planning and children's next steps. All children will take the statutory Reception Baseline Assessment during their first six weeks in Reception. This is used as a measure of progress from starting Reception through until the end of year 6. 

At the end of the Reception year, children will be assessed against the Early Learning Goals as part of the Profile assessment. This is used to inform the year one teacher about the children's attainment in order to ensure smooth transitions between the key stages.  

School times

• Nursery 30hrs and Reception: 8.45am - 3.15pm
• Nursery AM 8.45am - 11.45am