Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Early Years Intent Statement
Intent
At Egglescliffe C.E. Primary School we aim to provide high quality care and education for all children. We focus on creating a secure and nurturing environment where children are keen to come into school each day. We endeavour to plan and deliver stimulating learning experiences that run alongside an inviting learning space where children are encouraged to develop their skills to become inquisitive, creative and resilient learners. At Egglescliffe C.E. Primary School we want every child to feel valued and know that their individual personalities are respected as part of our school family.
We aim to prepare children to reach the Early Learning Goals at the end of the Foundation Stage and ensure children make good progress from their starting points. At the end of a child’s 9me in the Foundation Stage we strive to support their transition into Key Stage 1.
Implementation
The Foundation Stage team work closely with the children, helping them to learn to adapt from the home environment to the new and challenging experiences of school. Supporting them to foster new relationships with their peers and helping them to learn to work together, in order to share, co-operate and to solve problems.
At Egglescliffe C.E. Primary we follow the Early Years curriculum using topic themes alongside enrichment opportunities. Teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage follows the seven areas of learning, all of which are equally valued at Egglescliffe C.E. Primary.
Prime areas:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
Four specific areas through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied:
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
We recognise that children will learn most effectively when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. We aim to provide a setting that encompasses a safe and stimulating environment where children are able to enjoy learning and grow in confidence that helps them to achieve their fullest potential.
Teaching in Foundation Stage is practical and playful with support and challenge from adults during whole class sessions, small group sessions, and when working 1:1 with individuals. There is a combination of adult-led, teacher taught sessions alongside opportunities for children to learn through play in the continuous provision. Alongside the 7 areas of learning, we spend 9me reflecting on the different ways that children learn and consider how to best use this knowledge to support individuals learning. The focus of the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ is on how children learn rather than what they learn; therefore we strive to support the children to develop the skills that they will continue to draw upon throughout their development and school career.
Impact
From their individual starting points, all children will make good progress academically, emotionally, creatively, socially and physically. Knowledge, understanding and skills will be secured and embedded so that children attain highly alongside developing a sense of themselves so that they are well prepared for Key Stage 1. We expect the majority of our pupils to reach the Early Learning Goal at the end of Reception and strive for many to exceed this judgement.
At Egglescliffe C.E. Primary, we identify children’s starting points and plan experiences to ensure progress. We measure and monitor the impact of our curriculum through talking to pupils and their carers, spending 9me looking at pupils work, observing their learning experiences and analysing data and progress by year group, groupings and individuals. Evidence of children’s learning in Nursery, including; observations, work samples, photographs and contributions from parents are kept in ‘learning journals’ books, which teachers, parents and children use to reflect on individual experiences and progress. In Reception these observations are gathered and collated in floor books, this is supplemented by individual exercise books that the pupils use to record their learning in Phonics, Literacy and Mathematics. Our assessment judgements are moderated both in school and externally with local schools and others in our trust.
Alongside the areas of learning, pupils will have developed their ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ and are able to apply their knowledge to a range of situations making links and explaining their ideas and understanding. Children are able to take risks and discuss their successes and failures with adults, drawing on their experiences to improve or adjust what they are doing. Pupils will have been supported to make sense of the world around them; developing tolerance, compassion, respect and an understanding of others. We hope that by the end of Foundation Stage children are well rounded, happy, inquisitive and successful learners, who are good role models both for our school community and their local community.
