Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the period of education from birth to 5 years. In our Foundation Stage we have two Year R classes. Throughout the year we work closely with Lovel End Nursery. A privately run on site Early Years setting from where the large majority of Year R intake transfer. After Easter we liaise with feeder nurseries and pre-schools prior to school entry.

Our curriculum recognises children’s prior learning from previous settings and their home experiences; we provide first hand learning opportunities, whilst allowing the children to build resilience, ambition and integrity. Every child is a unique individual, we celebrate and welcome differences within our school community. We provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and believe that school should be a happy and positive place, enabling children to develop a lifelong love of learning.

Intent:

At Chalfont St Peter Infant School, we place great value on the development of children as individuals and providing them with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to prepare them for the for the next stage of their learning journey in Key Stage One.

We intend:

• To work in partnership with parents and carers to encourage independent, happy learners who thrive in school and reach their full potential from their various starting points
• To understand and follow children’s interests and provide opportunities throughout our EYFS curriculum to support learning, consolidate and deepen knowledge and ensure children meet their next steps
• To create a learning environment and build relationships which support, enhance and invite a child’s curiosity, confidence and individual competency to flourish regardless of backgrounds, circumstances or needs
• To prepare children to reach the Early Learning Goals at the end of Year R and ensure children make good or better progress from their individual starting points
• To take an active role in events within the wider community
• To provide children with a high-quality, broad and challenging Maths curriculum which develops their deep understanding of numbers
• To teach daily direct, focused phonics lessons and provide extra support throughout the day where necessary
• To instil in children a love of literature, using a range of texts and types of writing across the year
• To support transition into KS1

Implementation:

At Chalfont St Peter Infant School, we use the Department for Education Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021) to underpin our curriculum and planning. Our curriculum provides a balance of child initiated and teacher led activities which enables our children to become fully engaged and excited by their learning. Effective and enabling indoor and outdoor provision motivates children to be independent learning with access to quality play-based experiences which encourages them to notice, question and wonder. The learning experiences within Year R are linked to the seven areas of learning and development within the EYFS.

The Year R team observe, question and extend children’s learning to ensure children’s next steps are met through planning and teaching in the moment. Wow moments are recorded on Tapestry and in team meetings, areas of concerns are identified and intervention for groups or individuals are planned as appropriate.

Children in EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outdoors. Most of our outdoor area is covered meaning learning can take place all year round and in most weather conditions. Continuous provision is a vital aspect in the development of knowledge, skills and consolidation of learning. Through our indoor and outdoor learning environments children develop key life skills such as independence, innovation, creativity, enquiry and problem solving. During the school day our children have opportunities to work independently, collaboratively with peers and members of staff.  Once a week the children spend the day learning outdoors in the Environmental Area through Forest School based activities. Our curriculum, planning and learning environments enable children to become resilient, take risks and motivated to learn.

Our themes are driven from child-centred topics which are deeply rooted in the love of stories and reading. Over the year we plan a range of educational visits for example the theatre, local library, restaurant, animal rescue centre. Our children enjoy visits from a range of people within the local community such as people who help us (firefighters) and those from various cultures. During Forest Friday sessions they plant bulbs and seeds, watch them grow and eat their produce such as lettuce and potatoes.

Impact:

The children at Chalfont St Peter Infant School experience a smooth transition between pre-school settings/nurseries, Year R and into Year 1. Effective communication and collaboration ensure the children leave Year R with a solid foundation of learning of which to build upon.

Our children have varied and diverse starting points. We have high expectations to ensure that all children make expected or above expects progress across all of the areas of the EYFS curriculum. Progress is evident in online learning journeys, books, data and the Year R Teams knowledge of the child. We strive for children to read the Early Learning Goals at the end of Year R and to be in line or above National Expectations.

As a team, we carry our regular meetings to monitor progress, identify areas of concern and moderate assessments. By monitoring assessments regularly, we can effectively demonstrate what learning is taking place and how each child is progressing towards the Early Learning Goals.

In Year R our children develop into well rounded individuals who uphold school values and demonstrate attitudes which will make them confident, lifelong learners and valuable citizens.