Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Welcome to Early Years!

We believe that play is vital as an integral part of learning and this is at the heart of our Early Years curriculum. We encourage and teach our children to be curious about their learning and be confident communicators in a language rich environment.

We have high expectations for all our children and through warm, positive relationships we help our children to become confident and independent people who love our world.

Our Little Conkers Pre-School children and Reception children have lots of wonderful spaces to explore and learn in. In addition to our three indoor classrooms we have a large dedicated outdoor area, sensory room and a brand new woodland play space! We also make full use of the learning spaces available to the whole school including the school hall and field for our PE sessions and the Green Room for other exciting activities and reflection time.

Our themes and topics are decided alongside the children and their interests and other exciting, seasonal events. This helps to inspire and develop enthusiasm for learning. We aim to create a caring and supportive environment where our children can learn through hands on activities and experiences. Our EYFS team play along side the children to extend their learning opportunities and vocabulary and really get to know and understand each individual child in our class.

We love sharing this with you via class dojo. For more information on how we use Class dojo and keep in contact with families follow this link Home school communication

For further information about Little Conkers Pre-School follow this link: Little Conkers

Check out what our Reception children have been up to this year Click Here!

 The EYFS curriculum

In Pre-School and Reception, we follow the EYFS Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This Framework specifies the requirement for learning and development in the Early Years and provides specific areas of learning we must cover in our curriculum.

These areas are:

•  Personal, Social and Emotional Development
•  Physical Development
•  Communication and Language development
•  Literacy
•  Mathematics
•  Understanding the World
•  Expressive Arts and Design

A vital aspect in the development of essential knowledge and skills is the use of continuous provision. This means that children are using and developing certain skills throughout the year on a daily/weekly basis. Continuous Provision practice and principles begin in Early Years Foundation Stage and support children to develop key life skills such as independence; innovation; creativity, enquiry; analysis and problem solving.

We have worked hard to make sure the Continuous Provision practice feeds in to our Key Stage 1 Curriculum and links are made for our children and their learning from the start.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning

The Characteristics of Effective Learning are also a vital part of the EYFS curriculum and inter-connected with the Prime and Specific Areas of Learning and Development. Children’s learning is not compartmentalised and many or all of these elements are in action at the same time as children interact with people and things.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning describe behaviours children use in order to learn. To learn well, children must approach opportunities with curiosity, energy and enthusiasm. Effective learning must be meaningful to a child, so that they are able to use what they have learned and apply it in new situations. These abilities and attitudes of strong learners will support them to learn well and make good progress in all the Areas of Learning and Development.

The Areas of Learning and Development affect each other.  For example, developing communication and language will support children to understand and explain mathematical ideas. Developing physical skills will allow children to be more active explorers and so enhance their progress in Understanding the World.  The more concepts they develop within Understanding the World, the more they will be able to relate to what they find in books and so support their development in Literacy. Experiences and activities that relate to Areas of Learning and Development, when they offer children opportunities to have autonomy and develop their own ideas, can also provide the contexts for children to practise their learning behaviours,  and so reinforce the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Development in each of the Prime areas affect the others: as babies and children develop their sensory abilities and movement, they can perceive and engage with others, and so develop in PSED.  Engaging with others spurs more physical activity, and is the beginning of communication and language, which in turn helps build relationships, understanding of feelings and learning about health and physical wellbeing.

While the Prime areas are especially crucial to early years provision during the first three years, they remain centrally important for children’s development and learning throughout the EYFS  and beyond, and should receive priority attention to ensure strong foundations in development and learning.

New to Reception 2024

We are delighted that you have been offered a place at Chestnut Street primary academy.

Transition information:

Please keep a look out for your welcome pack which will be delivered to you with admission forms and important transition information. Aswell as a little gift for your child. 

We will be holding a welcome afternoon on Thursday 23rd May at 3.15pm. We look forward to welcoming you to our school.

We love sharing stories and rhymes with our new cohort on Class Dojo and getting to know our new families! Mrs Hall will be visiting preschools to meet your child before the summer holidays. 

There will be an opportunity for children to come and play in their new classroom on Friday 28th June - 9am-11.30am. 

We are also looking forward to our family Teddy Bears Picnic on Friday 5th July at 2pm.

If you have any questions or queries about the starting school journey please contact the school office or message Mrs Hall on class dojo.