Early Years
In the Early Years Foundation Stage at St Mary’s, our mission is to provide an enabling environment which promotes the learning and development of every child attending our setting. Our EYFS curriculum is designed to allow children to develop the knowledge and learning behaviours that they need to succeed in life. Children’s learning is led through a balance of discrete, adult-led sessions and carefully planned continuous provision where children have the opportunity to investigate and apply their learning using our stimulating indoor and outdoor environments.
It is our aim that children will transition into Key Stage One as confident, independent and reflective learners.
Through building positive relationships, we aim to develop and foster the characteristic of effective learning in every child. Children are encouraged to become well-regulated and sociable through the modelling of positive interactions and language at all times. Our learning environments, alongside interactions with our skilled practitioners, are carefully planned and resourced to allow children the opportunities to:
*Develop their communication and language skills
*Expand their confidence, independence and resilience
*Learn through active play and exploration
*Extend their skills/ abilities by testing them out in a range of situations
*Enjoy learning and have fun
*Build positive relationships with adults and peers
*Seek challenge and learn from mistakes
*Develop their gross and fine motor skills
*Gain the basic skills, knowledge and understanding required to become confident learners
We believe that all children are capable of achieving amazing things and we develop this through having high expectations of all the children in our Reception Class at St Mary’s. We also believe in working closely with parents to ensure that we can enable the best outcomes for our children. We use Tapestry as a means of communicating instantly with parents and carers.
Parental engagement is very important to us at St Mary’s School and communication with parents and carers is facilitated through; home visits, parent open-sessions, online (Tapestry and email) and daily conversations with staff. We welcome parents into school for Parents Evenings and other opportunities throughout the year.
We recognise the unique practice of nurturing the learning of young children with specific needs and we are aware of the importance of early intervention for children facing specific developmental/ learning challenges. One of our Reception teachers is the leader of SEND at St Mary’s and we welcome you to discuss any concerns that you have regarding your child.
Staff in the EYFS work tirelessly to create an environment that fosters personal, social and emotional development whilst also promoting a love of learning through our engaging half termly topic based curriculum.
Our children leaving Reception have a secure understanding of basic mathematical and scientific concepts. They will have encountered a wealth of well-chosen texts and had opportunities to write in different contexts. Early reading skills are well established through discreet phonics and daily reading sessions, designed to develop a love of reading, in preparation for KS1. Children will also have developed the self-esteem and resilience required to be successful learners in Year 1 and beyond!
Visits to our Reception class are always warmly encouraged.
Please click on the link below to look at what the children will be learning this year.
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