EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage

About our setting

In foundation stage, our goal is to create a safe and stimulating environment where your child can flourish, reach their full potential and develop a love for learning. We pride ourselves on building strong relationships with your child and getting to know them as an individual.

When your child first starts school in foundation stage, we focus on helping them to get to know the environment, become familiar with the routines of the day and guide them to understand the expectations for behaviour based on the behaviour values of our school.

What learning looks like in our setting

Your child will develop knowledge, skills and understanding across all seven areas of learning through a carefully planned balance of adult-led teaching, guided learning and independent exploration.

Your child will be immersed in a language and vocabulary-rich environment, allowing them to become effective and confident communicators.
Our systematic phonics scheme (Little Wandle) allows us to gradually teach your child to learn individual phonemes (sounds) and the graphemes (letters) that they correspond to. In a short space of time, your child will have the necessary skills to start reading books and using their phonetic knowledge to start writing.
Your child will develop their personal, social and emotional skills which will provide them with the tools and strategies to manage the many new challenges that they will face at big school.
Through ‘Zones of Regulation’ lessons, your child will be taught how to manage and understand their emotions and the emotions of others.
Our writing scheme immerses your child in a variety of texts, allowing them to gradually build their knowledge of the skills needed for writing.
Our practical and vocabulary-rich approach to maths will help your child to master the early maths knowledge that will be the foundation for future maths learning.
Your child’s fine motor skills will be developed through a variety of ‘Funky Fingers’ activities.
Gross motor skills will be enhanced through our PE lessons, forest school sessions, navigating our outside area and being given the opportunity to use our balance and pedal bikes.
Your child will have access to a wide range of art materials that they can independently explore and create. We will explicitly teach them about colour and a variety of other artistic skills.
Your child will deepen their understanding of the world around them, starting with their immediate environments and then exploring far and wide. There is an emphasis placed on understanding living things, including watching our very own duck eggs hatch!

Developing Independence and Self-Regulation

In Foundation Stage, we help children develop the skills they need to become confident, independent and resilient learners. These skills support children to manage their emotions, focus their attention, remember information, solve problems and adapt when things don't go as planned.

We develop these skills naturally throughout the day through play, routines, conversations and purposeful learning experiences. Adults model strategies, provide encouragement and give children time to think, try things for themselves and learn from mistakes.

We encourage children to:

Listen carefully and remember instructions.
Follow familiar routines and take responsibility for their belongings.
Persevere when something feels challenging.
Think about what they need before starting a task.
Make choices and explain their ideas.
Wait, take turns and manage their impulses.
Try different ways to solve a problem.
Adapt their ideas when something doesn't work.
Talk about their feelings and use strategies to help themselves regulate.
Reflect on their learning and celebrate their successes.

We believe that developing these skills alongside knowledge and understanding helps children become confident, curious and increasingly independent learners.

What does this look like in practice?

Getting themselves ready for outdoor learning.
Persevering with a tricky puzzle.
Explaining how the solved a problem.
Tidying and organizing resources.
Changing their plan when something doesn't work.
Thinking about what they need before starting a task.
Recognising when they need help or a moment to regulate.
Trying again after making a mistake.

Supporting your child at home

There are lots of simple ways you can support your child's early reading, communication and language development at home.

Share a book every day, where possible, and make reading a special time together.
Read your child's school reading book regularly, giving them opportunities to practise what they have been learning in school.
Listen carefully as your child reads and encourage them to use their phonics to work out unfamiliar words.
Encourage your child to blend sounds together when reading words, rather than guessing from pictures.
Practice the sounds and GPCs that your child is learning in school.
Give lots of opportunities to practice oral blending, particularly in the early stages of phonics.
Enjoy books together for pleasure, reading stories aloud to your child and sharing favourite books.
Talk about the stories you share – discuss characters, events, new vocabulary and what might happen next.
Sing nursery rhymes and songs together, and enjoy playful opportunities to develop listening and language skills.
Please return reading books on the agreed day so that your child can continue to access new books and reading experiences in school.

Talk, Talk, Talk! Talking with your child is one of the most powerful ways you can support their learning. Everyday conversations help children develop their vocabulary, confidence and ability to express their ideas.

Talk about what you see, what you are doing, what happened during the day and what might happen next. Encourage your child to explain their ideas, retell experiences and use new vocabulary. Most importantly, give your child plenty of time to listen, think and respond.

At home, you could:

Talk about what you see on the journey to and from school.
Cook or bake together and introduce new words to describe ingredients, actions and measurements.
Ask your child to explain how they made or created something.
Retell a favourite story together using story language.
Sing nursery rhymes and learn new songs together.
Play listening games such as “I spy”, sound hunts or “Simon Says”.
Talk about feelings and help your child find words to describe how they feel.
Encourage your child to ask and answer questions.
Give your child time to respond rather than answering for them.
Introduce new vocabulary naturally and encourage your child to use it in conversation.

What we will offer your child?

As adults, we work tirelessly to provide your child with the opportunities they need to become curious and independent learners. We will encourage your child to take risks, try new things and step out of their comfort zone. Your child will understand that they do not need to worry about making mistakes and that getting things wrong is all part of the learning process.

Above all, we want your child to be happy and to feel like they are being successful. The environment we provide, and the meaningful adult interactions that take place daily, result in happy and successful children.

How we assess children's learning?

We get to know each child as an individual through observations, interactions and conversations. Adults notice what children know and can do, identify their interests and next steps, and use this information to plan meaningful learning opportunities. Assessment is an ongoing part of everyday practice rather than a separate activity. We work closely with families to build a shared understanding of each child's development and celebrate their achievements.

How we communicate with you

We believe that strong communication between school and home is an important part of supporting your child'slearning, development and wellbeing. We aim to keep families informed and provide opportunities for regular, two-way communication.

ClassDojo – weekly class updates, important reminders and celebrations of your child's learning.
School Office – support with attendance, absence and general school enquiries.
Parent Mail – important school communications, information and messages.
Parent Meetings – opportunities to discuss your child's progress, development and next steps.
Open-Door Approach – we are always happy to listen; answer questions and discuss anything you may be unsure about.
School Website and Newsletters – information, updates and wider school news.

If you have a question, concern or something you would like to share about your child, please talk to us. We value the knowledge and insight that families bring and believe that working together helps us provide the best possible support for every child.

Meet the EYFS Team

Hello, I am Mrs Vidgen

I graduated from Canterbury Christ Church University in 2018 with a BA (Hons) in Childhood Studies. Since then, I have worked across EYFS and Key Stage 1 and have developed a particular passion for Early Years. As our Early Years Lead, Ihave completed the National Professional Qualification for Early Years Leadership (NPQEYL) and the National Professional Qualification for Senior Leadership (NPQSL).

I am passionate about creating a happy, nurturing and stimulating environment where every child feels safe, valued and excited to learn. I believe that children learn best when they are given opportunities to explore, investigate, talk,play and develop their ideas. I particularly enjoy developing children's communication and language and early reading skills.

I feel very privileged to be part of each child's learning journey and enjoy watching their confidence, independence and skills develop throughout their time in EYFS.

If you ever have a question, something you would like to share, or simply want to have a chat about your child, I am always happy to help.

Meet the EYFS Team

Hello, My name is Mrs Collins and I am one of the teachers in Foundation Stage.

I graduated from the University of East Anglia in 2001 with a BA(Hons) Degree in Early Childhood studies. I then went onto work with children in a variety of setting before completed my Teacher Training in 2021.

Being a Foundation Stage teacher is a very special and unique role that I absolutely love.

Being part of a child's first year in school is an honour and I am lucky enough to see each child flourish in the environment that we provide. I pride myself on building strong and trusting relationships with all the children in my class and supporting them to try their best even if they find things difficult.

I am a fierce believer that if we create a space that children feel safe and secure, and they have access to a stimulating environment that allows them to be curious learners, they will reach their full potential.

Please do not hesitate to contact us or come and visit our amazing setting.

Little Wandle Rhyme Time

Throughout EYFS, we use Little Wandle Rhyme Time to develop children’s early communication, language and literacy skills through the joy of rhymes, songs and actions. Regularly learning and repeating rhymes helps children to develop listening skills, build vocabulary, recognise rhythm and rhyme, and tune in to the sounds of language.

These experiences also support phonological awareness, which is an important foundation for learning to read and write.

Most importantly, Rhyme Time provides opportunities for children to join in, build confidence and develop a lifelong love of language and stories.

Getting Ready to Start School

Every child is unique and develops at their own pace. Learning begins from birth, and children arrive at school with different experiences, strengths and needs.

We work closely with families and early years settings to help every child feel safe, confident and ready for their Reception journey.

There are simple ways you can support your child at home. Everyday activities such as talking together, sharing stories, playing, encouraging independence and practicing familiar routines can help your child develop confidence and prepare for starting school.

Find out more: The following resources offer practical advice and activities to help you support your child as they get ready for school.

Preparing for School – Best Start in Life – practical ideas to develop communication, independence and confidence.
Starting Reception – Resources for Families – helpful guidance, fun activities and resources to practise everyday skills at home.
Department for Education – Getting Children Ready for Reception – guidance on how schools, early years settings and families can work together to support children’s transition.