Early Years Foundation Stage

Intent

At Great Kimble Church of England School, we provide our Early Years children with a curriculum that is designed to be flexible, engaging and exciting so that their unique needs, passions and interests are embraced. Every child is an exceptional individual and we celebrate and respect differences within our school community. The ability to learn is underpinned by the teaching of basic skills, knowledge and values that equips our children for their future successes.

We inspire our children to become accomplished, happy individuals, ready to reach their full potential in an ever-changing world.

Our EYFS curriculum is driven to:

• Recognise children’s prior learning and experiences.

• Provide first hand learning experiences allow the children to develop interpersonal skills.

• Build resilience through our ‘Growth Mindset’ approach and become critical and creative thinkers.

• Foster the development of each child’s character.

• Develop their personal development, health and wellbeing by preparing them to make a valuable contribution to society.

• We pride ourselves on providing purposeful, enticing and well planned indoor and outdoor environments which supports learning in all areas of the curriculum and that prepare our children to meet the Early Learning goals at the end of the Foundation Stage.

At Great Kimble we work closely with our parents and carers in order to promote independent, confident and enthusiastic learners who thrive in school and develop a love for learning . Within our Reception class we plan for our children’s interests and provide opportunities throughout our EYFS curriculum to support learning, consolidate and deepen knowledge and ensure children meet their next steps.  We provide our children with a wide range of rich, first hand experiences to take the curriculum beyond the classroom and into their lives within the community.

Implementation

At Great Kimble School, we recognise that our children learn best 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 and independence.

Our Reception class follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (September 2021) and work towards the Early Learning Goals (At the End of the Reception Year)

There are seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

These are the Prime Areas:

• Communication and language

• Physical development

• Personal, social and emotional development

These are the Specific Areas:

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the world

• Expressive arts and design

At Great Kimble School the core aim of our Foundation Stage Curriculum is to provide a strong and solid platform. As children grow and progress, the prime areas will support them to develop skills in the four specific areas. Children in EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. Our outdoor area is used all year round and in most weather conditions.

We ensure activities support the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These are:

• Playing and Exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.

• Active Learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements.

• Creating and Thinking Critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

Our themes are driven from child-centred topics based on providing our pupils with ‘enticing experiences’. Subject knowledge of the updated EYFS curriculum is strong among all practitioners and is used to plan a broad, balanced and progressive learning environment and curriculum for all of our pupils.

Effective continuous provision practise and principles support our children to develop key life skills such as independence, innovation, creativity, enquiry, analysis and problem solving. During the school day, children will have an opportunity to work independently, work collaboratively with their friends and with members of staff. We aim to provide regular opportunities for parents and carers to come into school and support their child, share their learning and celebrate successes. We keep parents informed through weekly school Newsletters and through the children’s individual Tapestry Learning Journals.

Impact

The impact of our curriculum at Great Kimble School  is measured by how effectively it helps our children develop into well rounded individuals who embody our school values and carry with them the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will make them lifelong learners and valuable future citizens. Our children make strong progress academically, emotionally, creatively, socially and physically. Knowledge, understanding and skills are secured and embedded so that children attain highly and are fully prepared for their new year group.

At the end of EYFS our children:

• Have strong communication skills, both written and verbal. Our children also listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others.

• Take pride in all that they do, always striving to do their best.

• Demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenge.

• Develop a sense of self-awareness and become confident in their own abilities.

• Are kind, respectful and honest, demonstrate inclusive attitudes and have a sense of their role in our wider society.