Our ethos -
Our EYFS is packed full of fun and meaningful experiences by learning through play. Our indoor and outdoor environments are developed by practitioners who are dedicated to providing 'wow' moments and irresistible activities where children learn. We also like our children to develop and build upon their own interests, so that they become actively engaged in their learning journeys.
Children experience adult directed learning (which we call together time) where we teach new skills and knowledge in a practical and active way. During COOL time (choose our own learning time), our staff play with our children to help to model and develop language and vocabulary in meaningful ways (using the Shrec Approach as a model).
Phonics -
As a school we use Read, Write Inc to teach phonics daily where we follow the programme closely in a systematic way. In September and October, we learn a new sound each day. We also build up phonological awareness and 'Fred talk' where we sound out and repeat words with Fred the Frog. After the first half of Autumn term, our children are assessed and grouped so that they can be taught in a more bespoke way for their learning needs.
Language, literacy, reading, communication -
Starting an early love for books is such a vital aspect of education at our school. Story reading is a key part of our day and we carefully choose texts which the children can join in with and enjoy - across fiction, non-fiction and phonics.
Early Maths -
We also have a daily maths session where we do White Rose inspired Maths Mastery full of practical maths with a rich mathematical vocabulary that builds throughout the year.
Topics - Our topics are between 4 and 6 weeks long, depending on interest, engagement and learning. These topics are broad and open questions which leave room to follow the direction of things the children want to learn (as well as covering our own curriculum intentions). For example, our topic "What's in an egg?" took lots of different directions in both classes last year, from dinosaurs to birds, to mythical creatures. We even found dinosaur eggs in the woods and invited a scientist to come and investigate them! This was very eggsiting! We love to have lots of 'wow' 'ooh' and 'ahh!"moments - that is where the best learning happens.
Child initiated learning experiences are very powerful and enable children to cover all areas of the curriculum. Play does not just happen. Our environments are laid out carefully to maximise the learning opportunities. We carefully add enhancements to the learning area to stimulate their experiences or teach them new skills. Children are taught to help themselves to resources and also to take responsibility to put them back carefully for the next person. This is the same outdoors - our learning sheds and packed full of resources which children can select from with their friends.
Please see other areas of this curriculum page to see how we approach reading, writing and maths in more detail.
Topics - Our topics are between 4 and 6 weeks long, depending on interest, engagement and learning. These topics are broad and open questions which leave room to follow the direction of things the children want to learn (as well as covering our own curriculum intentions). For example, our topic "What's in an egg?" took lots of different directions in both classes last year, from dinosaurs to birds, to mythical creatures. We even found dinosaur eggs in the woods and invited a scientist to come and investigate them! This was very eggsiting! We love to have lots of 'wow' 'ooh' and 'ahh!"moments - that is where the best learning happens.
Child initiated learning experiences are very powerful and enable children to cover all areas of the curriculum. Play does not just happen. Our environments are laid out carefully to maximise the learning opportunities. We carefully add enhancements to the learning area to stimulate their experiences or teach them new skills. Children are taught to help themselves to resources and also to take responsibility to put them back carefully for the next person. This is the same outdoors - our learning sheds and packed full of resources which children can select from with their friends.
Please see other areas of this curriculum page to see how we approach reading, writing and maths in more detail.
Please see the PDF file below for an overview of our curriculum for the year.
