Early Years
In Early Years at Abbey Primary School, we pride ourselves on providing a safe and nurturing environment for all children. We want our children to be happy, confident and independent learners who enjoy coming to school.
We believe that learning should be engaging, exciting and suitably challenging to develop children’s thinking and problem solving skills. In the EYFS we believe that children learn best through play so we provide a wide range of opportunities for play to instil a real love of learning. Alongside this, we provide some fun and engaging adult-led activities in Maths and Literacy to teach skills and concepts.
We value Outdoor Learning and this happens through Forest Fridays in our Reception class where the children have fun exploring the forest area and nature, completing learning to develop thinking and problem-solving skills and of course getting dirty!
We are committed to working in partnership with families to enable each child to reach their full potential.
Intent:
- At Abbey Primary we aim to establish and maintain a stimulating environment which provides a good introduction to school life
- We offer a curriculum that builds on each child’s needs and interests.
- We also focus on children’s social and emotional needs whilst promoting their confidence, initiative, security and enjoyment.
Implementation:
- EYFS Curriculum map shared with staff, discussed, reflected and reviewed regularly.
- In EYFS there are seven areas of learning. We have a creative approach in delivering all aspects of the curriculum and provide children with a wide range of provision for them to explore across all areas of learning.
Impact:
- Children are independent learners.
- Pupils will have developed good range of skills across all areas in particular PSED, in relation to perseverance, independence and resilience and communication and language. They will be able to talk about their learning with confidence and the targets that they have to improve.
Physical Development
There are many opportunities for children to develop their fine motor control in all areas of continuous provision across the setting. Opportunities for gross motor control in the setting helps children develop spatial awareness, balancing and climbing skills as well as managing risks safely. In Nursery and Reception the children have a P.E. session per week which facilitates the development of gross motor skills but also exposes children to good health and hygiene practices. The children have free flow daily where P.E equipment trikes, bikes and scooters are available.
Literacy
In EYFS we strive to instil a love of reading and the children are exposed to daily stories, a focus text each week or fortnight, and all children read individually to an adult to support blending skills and comprehension. Phonics sessions are delivered daily to build the foundations for reading and writing. The children are assessed regularly in phonics to ensure they achieve their full potential. There are opportunities for writing in all areas of continuous provision across the setting in addition to focused adult-led group sessions.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
In EYFS we encourage our children to be independent, resilient, explore and discuss feelings and emotions and have a positive attitude to all aspects of their life. Children are taught strategies to help with their feelings and emotions. One of the ways this is taught is through the ‘My Happy Mind’ programme.
Understanding the World
Through a wide range of activities and through play we encourage our children to develop concepts, show care for our environment, respect all living things, respect the beliefs of others whilst learning about a range of cultures.
Mathematics
We constantly strive to promote the use of mathematical language and early reasoning skills at every opportunity during continuous provision as well as adult-led teaching. Maths is integral to all areas indoors and outdoors from measuring, recording activities and problem solving.
Expressive Arts and Design
We plan a range of opportunities for children to explore and be imaginative through different role-play area, puppets, masks and in the creative area. During continuous provision, children have open access to a wide range of media and materials to allow them to use their imagination and demonstrate their creativity.
Forest Friday
We plan weekly opportunities for children in Reception to access the forest area/nature in order to build confidence and independence, develop respect and care for living things, interact and build relationships with peers through team work and co-operation.
Parent Partnership
In EYFS we have an open-door policy and will always make time to speak to parents as necessary. We use Class Dojo as a form of communication as well as posting information about the children’s day. Each child will be allocated a key person who will meet with parents twice a year to discuss their progress. We value parent’s feedback and encourage parents to share what their children are doing at home and their achievements.