EYFS at All Saints

Welcome to Early Years at All Saints’

At All Saints’, we want every child to have a happy, confident and successful start to school. Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) includes Nursery and Reception.

We work together as one Early Years team, providing a safe, caring and exciting environment where children can learn, play and grow.

Our Nursery and Reception

Our Nursery children attend in the mornings. Nursery and Reception are supported by three adults, who work together across our Early Years provision.

At different times during the morning, Nursery and Reception children:

• learn and play together through carefully planned activities and continuous provision;
• use our indoor and outdoor learning areas;
• learn separately in our two classrooms for focused, age-appropriate teaching; and
• receive support and challenge based on their individual needs.

Learning alongside Reception children can help our Nursery children develop their language, confidence, independence and social skills. It also helps them become familiar with the routines and expectations of Reception, supporting a smooth transition when the time comes.

Reception children continue to have focused teaching in areas such as phonics, reading, writing and mathematics, alongside plenty of opportunities to learn through purposeful play.

How We Learn

Children learn best when they are happy, interested and actively involved. We provide a balance of adult-led teaching and opportunities for children to explore, investigate, create and learn through play.

Our curriculum covers the seven areas of the EYFS and supports children’s communication, physical development, personal and social development, literacy, mathematics, understanding of the world and creativity. We get to know every child and plan learning that reflects their needs, interests and stage of development.

Working With Families

Parents and carers are an important part of children’s learning. We value strong relationships with our families and encourage you to talk to us, share information and celebrate your child’s achievements with us.

Together, we help our children become happy, confident and independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education.

Download Centre

PRIME AREAS :

Communication and language – Development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.  Children are encouraged to extend their vocabulary and fluency by talking and listening and by hearing and responding to stories, songs and rhymes.

Physical development – Children are encouraged to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement.  Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.  A range of equipment and opportunities both indoors and outdoors allows children to develop confidence and enjoyment in the use of their bodily skills.  Adult support enables children to safely create and meet physical challenges, developing increasing skill and control in moving, climbing and balancing. Physical skills are taught through a clear sequence of progression by the school’s PE coach once a week. Children are also supported in the development of fine motor skills required to use tools, including pens and pencils and to handle small objects with increasing control and precision.

Personal, social and emotional development – Children are taught to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others, to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.  Within a nurturing environment, children are individually supported in developing confidence, autonomy and self-respect.  They are encouraged to work and concentrate independently and also take part in the life of the class, sharing and co-operating with other children and adults. The children practise Brain Breaks throughout the day, which is a mindfulness practise to help children to manage their feelings and mental health.

As children grow, the prime areas are strengthened and these will help them to develop skills in the four specific areas.

SPECIFIC AREAS:

Literacy – Development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to read and write. Children are taught to read and write through by use of phonics. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials to ignite their interest giving every child the opportunity and encouragement to become familiar with books. They learn how to handle them carefully and be aware of their uses, both for reference and as a source of stories and pictures.  Books are shared daily in small groups and as a whole class, and individual reading books are sent home a long side a book for pleasure to be shared with an adult.

Mathematics – Children are given opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.  By means of adult-supported, practical and child initiated activities, children become familiar with sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting activities which form the basis for early mathematics.

Understanding the world – Children are encouraged to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.  A safe and stimulating environment allows children to explore and experiment with a range of natural and manufactured materials. They learn to observe the features of objects and substances, recognising differences, patterns and similarities, and to share and record their findings.  Children explore and understand their environment within the class and within the wider community.

Expressive arts and design – Children explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, and are encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology. A variety of art equipment is available for all children to explore, including paint, glue, crayons, pencils, pens, chalks, pastels and natural/man made materials.  Children participate in specialist teaching of music weekly where they practise rhythm, rhyme, explore instruments and build a repertoire of favourite songs.

Outdoor Play is Fun!

Not only is playing outside great fun for children, its healthy for them too! It has been recognised that children that play outside have an increase in the vitamins D levels, helping them to build strong bones. It will also support children to gain mastery of their bodies, strength and co-ordination as well as build their resilience.

At All Saint’s, we understand that children need and want to take some risks when they play. We aim to respond to these needs and interests by offering the children a stimulating and challenging environment where they can explore and learn.

Find out more here.