IMPLEMENTATION

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 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 potential.

In Early Years we begin with a strong emphasis on intentional teaching sessions and adult led activities to build the foundation of the children’s learning skills and knowledge and understanding the curriculum, so that they can apply this learning to child-initiated activities through continuous provision.

Our adults communicate and model language, they show, explain, demonstrate, explore ideas, encourage, question, recall, provide a narrative for what they or the children are doing, facilitate and challenge. Through observation and questioning, we are able to continuously assess, and therefore identify next steps in learning, and partnered with carefully planned activities, it gives us the right balance of challenge and support to move learning forward, whilst maintaining confidence and self-belief. Language development is vital to enable each child to access the whole curriculum and is done so throughout play in the environment and short structured sessions that are dedicated to the teaching of Phonics, Literacy, Communication and Language and Reading, as well as other areas of the EYFS curriculum.

The curriculum is planned and implemented through a thematic approach. This approach gives children the opportunities to apply their learning across the curriculum and that gives their work practical context and also opportunities to apply knowledge and skills through a variety of learning opportunities. Topics are introduced to our children in a creative way, half termly. Learning then develops through a series of lessons that build skills, knowledge and understanding within that topic of learning. At the end of each topic, children are given the opportunity to evaluate and celebrate their learning.

Throughout Reception our children are assessed in relation to their progress towards Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals. These judgements are made on the basis of observations and in-depth knowledge of the children acquired through ongoing assessments.  Next steps are fostered during continuous provision and adult led activities to ensure children are challenged. End of year assessments are finalised during the summer term, summarising each child’s development at that point against the Early Learning Goals and Development Matters.