Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a framework for children up to the age of five, setting out six key areas of learning around which activities should be based. As we do not have our own nursery on-site, our only Early Years Foundation stage provision is in Reception class, but we do liaise closely with the providers the children spent their last Nursery year with (other school nurseries, private day nurseries or child minders) to ensure they start to build on the progress they've already made, as soon as they arrive here.
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
Children in Reception follow a different curriculum to children in Years One and Two. This is made up of 7 different Areas of Learning which cover all the traditional subject areas such as reading, writing and maths, as well as social and emotional development and communication. This curriculum was updated in March 2021 and from September 2021 must be followed by all schools.
Children all develop at different rates and so the progression is grouped into age-based development stages and a final Early Learning Goal which states what an 'average' child should be able to do at the end of Reception.
At our school we understand that children develop at different speeds for all sorts of reasons and so your child may finish Reception not having met some or all of the Early Learning Goals. This is taken into account by the Year One teachers, who will then plan lessons that meet their needs, whether they have met the Expected Standard or not.
Click on the links below to view the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. This is made up of the Prime Areas of Learning, the Specific Areas of Learning and the end-of-year Early Learning Goals. There is also a parents guide to the EYFS Curriculum and some suggested activities to do at home with your child.
Tapestry Learning Journal
In our school we use an online program called Tapestry to track and evidence your child's progress through the Early Years curriculum.
We actively encourage our parents/carers to look at observations and photographs our staff have uploaded to your child's learning journey. You can also tell us about things your child is doing outside school that you are proud of; this may be craft activities, painting or drawing, reading a favourite book or comic, writing a birthday card or a shopping list or story, counting and using maths in the real world, singing or saying rhymes and songs, taking parts in sports and games or being active in the garden, using technology such a tablet, phone, smart speaker or computer.
You can access Tapestry on a phone or tablet or directly through the web on a computer. Click on the relevant guide to help you get started:
Tapestry parent guide for Android users
Tapestry parent guide for Apple users
Tapestry parent guide for web users
You will need an email address, a user name and password to log in to Tapestry, which the school office can give you. Click on the link below to log in:
Phonics and Reading
We are currently in the process of moving to a new phonics scheme. Previously we used LCP Phonics throughout school. Government requirements have now changed and this year schools must use a scheme from a validated list. In light of this we have chosen Essential Letters and Sounds. Your child will continue to have a daily phonics lesson and the sounds taught will be exactly the same. The scheme has been developed with Oxford University Press and so our exisiting stock of their reading books already matches the new scheme. We will, however, be purchasing additional home reading books when our budget allows.
You can find out more by clicking these links: