EYFS
Welcome to the EYFS page.
Our aim is to provide a caring environment which will complement the child's life both at home and in our community and encourage ALL children to progress to the best of their ability.
We have lots of fun being busy! It is through our play that we learn all we need to know. We believe that play helps children to develop intellectually.
Play that is well-planned and enjoyable gives children the opportunity to be creative, to explore and investigate materials, to experiment and to work out problems. Play is fun, having fun is a great motivation to learn.
At St Mary's we provide a wide, experience based curriculum that is planned with your child's needs as a starting point, offering a range of experiences in line with the Foundation Stage Curriculum that continues until the end of the Reception year.
The Foundation Stage Curriculum
The curriculum underpins all future learning and is organised into six areas of learning
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Mathematical Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
Here is a copy of Development Matters.
The EYFS has four distinct principles
1. A Unique Child
In the Foundation Stage, we recognise that every child has different learning styles which are met through a range of differentiated, stimulating and challenging activities. We aim for children to enter Key Stage 1 as ‘resilient, capable, confident and self-assured’ (DCSF 2008) learners.
2. Positive Relationships
During their time in Nursery and the Reception years, the children learn to be strong and independent. Through Assemblies, play times, and a rich indoor and outdoor curriculum the children form strong friendships across the whole of the Foundation Stage.
3. Enabling Environments
Both Classes have access to continuous areas of provision that support the seven areas of learning that make up the Foundation Stage curriculum. Children have access to stimulating and challenging indoor and outdoor play/tasks which support both child-initiated and teacher-directed activities. All the Foundation Stage outdoor areas are secure enclosures, with access to a natural grassed area and have a canopy for access to the outdoors during poor weather conditions. The children have access to the school hall and gym where Teachers deliver discreet Dance, Gym and Games sessions.
4. Learning & Development
Ongoing assessment is an integral part of the learning and development process. All staff are involved in making systematic observations and assessments of each child’s ‘achievements, interests and learning styles’ (DCSF 2008). These observations and assessments are then used to identify learning priorities which will be fed into future planning to ensure that activities are ‘motivating learning experiences’ (DCSF 2008) for every child across all seven areas of learning.
How to help with READING at home.
Learning to read through phonics.
Ideas for things to do at home
During the School Closure, we will provide ideas for work and things to do at home here. As always, please visit our Learning Zone for a variety of suggested activities and electronic resources.