Intent

At SS Peter and Paul all children are welcomed, valued and encouraged. Children feel a sense of belonging, and they acquire that because they are provided with a safe environment where they feel secure; adults know each individual child and they adapt their approach to meet the needs of that unique child. Positive relationships result in children who become strong and independent learners who are keen to explore, investigate, try new things and ‘have a go’.

Children are encouraged to discover the natural world and to experience feelings of awe and wonder when they hold their first ladybird, grow carrots from a seed or roll down a grassy bank.

They are supported to develop focus and concentration, to celebrate their successes and to develop resilience when things do not go according to plan – the focus of praise is on processes rather than end results. Communication and language are key factors in children’s success; we are passionate about creating opportunities for all children to communicate more easily through planned, focused development of language and communication skills, teaching specific vocabulary and concepts, back and forth interactions and use of Makaton.
With these things in place children begin to develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, develop strategies for doing things and build their learning over time.
Key skills and knowledge documents are modified at the beginning of each year, based on the needs of each cohort of children, and throughout the year, in accordance with children’s progress.

Implementation

At SS Peter and Paul we understand that the EYFS is a unique phase and that teaching in this phase can be defined as ‘the ways in which adults help children to learn’ during adult and child-led learning and play. It includes their interactions, communicating and modelling language, showing, explaining, demonstrating, exploring ideas, encouraging, questioning, recalling, providing a narrative for what they are doing and facilitating and setting challenges. It also encompasses the learning environment, routines and expectations, children’s interests and preferred learning styles and the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

We teach the EYFS curriculum in a logical progression, with equal importance placed on all seven areas of learning, giving children the opportunity to develop, deepen and consolidate their knowledge, understanding and skills. Our curriculum combines focus topics and the children’s interests; planning is adaptive and flexible to ensure that the children remain at the heart of the curriculum.

Daily observation of the children’s learning is undertaken by practitioners, next steps are identified and practitioners skillfully intervene to move learning forward ‘in the moment’ to ensure that progress is made and misconceptions are addressed. Regular adult led activities and daily phonics lessons are planned, allowing children to develop their next steps in learning. Focus stories each half term enable children to have in depth knowledge of a high quality story; they retell it, talk about it, alter it, draw and write about it and learn new vocabulary; to write a story children must be able to tell a story, to have ideas about settings, characters and scenarios; to develop a love of reading children must be read to, with enthusiasm and shared enjoyment; we are preparing our children to be successful readers and writers.

Children have daily opportunities to revisit prior learning which in turn helps them to remember more and know more.

Impact

Quality first teaching, regular observation of children, formative assessment and reflection on how children are accessing continuous provision happen daily at SS Peter and Paul. Our skilled team are able to demonstrate the impact of our EYFS curriculum because of this. In addition, summative assessment takes place twice a year, during the first half of the Autumn term and the second half of the summer term. Progress from starting points is at least good; children at the end of their Reception year are assessed using the statutory EYFSP; well planned transition into Year One ensures that staff know children’s starting points, next steps, interests and learning styles.

At weekly phase meetings the EYFS team have the opportunity for moderation of judgements, and discussion about next steps, interventions and strategies to support learning. The EYFS lead, SLT and professionals from other schools within SF&SC MAC are also involved in moderation of EYFS outcomes. Parents are also involved in this process, sharing their knowledge of their child at home visits and meetings prior to starting nursery or school, at parents evenings and throughout the year.

The impact of our curriculum is evident when observing our children; they are happy, confident, sociable, cooperative, determined, focused learners.

Prompt and timely involvement of other professionals within our school team and other agencies ensures that children with additional needs also make at least good progress.

EYFS Curriculum

Our Nursery and Reception Classes follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The Early Years prime areas are important because they lay the foundations for children’s success in all other areas of learning and of life:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Physical Development
  • Communication and Language

SS Peter and Paul are passionate that learning should be challenging, creative and fun. To that end, all elements of our broad curriculum (academic, non-academic, religious, extra-curricular and pastoral development) are regularly reviewed to check that themes are well matched to pupil’s interest and development.

  • Communication and language
  • Physical development
  • Personal, social and emotional development
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design

Please contact Early Years staff or our school office for further details about our excellent provision across these areas of learning.

EYFS Phonics

Please also see these links to our other workshops:

Outdoor Learning

We explore OUTDOORS EVERY DAY! Please make sure your child has a warm coat each day.

Documents

Gallery