Early Years Foundation Stage

About our setting

Here in foundation stage, our goal is to create a safe, nourishing and stimulating environment where your child can flourish, reach their full potential and develop a love for learning. We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with your child and getting to know them as an individual. We understand they each child is unique, and that the same approach does not work for all.

When your child first starts school in foundation stage, we focus on helping them to get to know the environment, become familiar with the routines of the day and guide them to understand the expectation for behaviour based on the behaviour values of our school. We understand that the first few weeks can be tricky for your child, and we will always be there to reassure them and give them a cuddle.

                            

What learning looks like in our setting

Your child will get to experience the seven area of learning through a range of adult led and independent opportunities and enhancements. An emphasis is placed on the characteristics of effective learning as we value the process of learning as well as the learning itself.

• Your child will be immersed in a language and vocabulary rich environment allowing them to become effective and confident communicators.
• Our systematic phonics scheme (Little Wandle) allows us to gradually teach your child to learn individual phonemes (sounds) and the graphemes (letters) that they correspond to. In a short space of time, your child will have the necessary skills to start reading books and using their phonetic knowledge to start writing.
• Your child will enhance their understanding of personal, social and emotional development which will provide them with the skills to deal with the many new challenges that they will face.
• Through ‘Zones of Regulation’ lessons, your child will be taught how to manage and understand their emotions and the emotions of others.
• Our writing scheme immerses your child in a variety of texts allowing them to gradually build their knowledge of the skills needed for writing.

                                               

 

• Our practical and vocabulary rich approach to maths will help your child to master the early maths knowledge that will be the foundation for future maths learning.
• Your child’s fine motor skills will be developed through a variety of ‘Funky Fingers’ activities and ‘Dough Disco’.
• Gross motor skills will be enhanced through our PE lessons, forest school sessions, navigating our outside area and being given the opportunity to use our balance and pedal bikes.

                        

• Your child will have access to a wide range of art material that they can independently explore and create. We will explicitly teach them about colour and a variety of other artistic skills.
• Your child will deepen their understanding of the world around them, starting with their immediate environments and then exploring far and wide. There is an emphasis places on understanding living things, including having our very own duck eggs to hatch!

What we will offer your child

As adults, we work tirelessly to provide your child with the opportunities they need to become curious and independent learners. We will encourage your child to take risks, try new things and step out of their comfort zone. Your child will understand that they do not need to worry about making mistakes and that getting things wrong as it is all part of the learning process.

Above all, we want your child to be happy and to feel like they are being successful. The environment we provide and the meaningful adult interactions that take place daily, result in happy and successful children. You only need to look our selection of photos to see how happy our ‘little beans’ are.