EYFS
INTENT:
We aim to provide children with a language rich environment. Speaking and language is the vehicle to reading, writing and other curriculum areas.
“The reading and writing of Standard English, alongside proficient language development, is the key to unlocking the rest of the academic curriculum.” Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, Minister of State for School Standards July 2021
We want to excite children by books and develop a love for reading.
IMPLEMENTATION:
We adhere to the ‘Statutory Framework of the EYFS’ and the four guiding principles that shape practice within Early Years settings:
- Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured;
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships;
- Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/ carers;
- Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.
In Nursery and Reception we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage, guided by ‘Development Matters’.
Our curriculum generally follows seasonal themes and takes children’s needs and interests into account.
There are seven areas of learning and development that are all important and interconnected.
Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive, both in the EYFS and into Key Stage 1. These three areas are the prime areas:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Children are also supported through the four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Our ambitious curriculum will re-unite children with “The Lost Words”
The book began as a response to the removal of everyday nature words - among them "acorn", "bluebell", "kingfisher" and "wren" - from a widely used children’s dictionary, because those words were not being used enough by children to merit inclusion. But The Lost Words then grew to become a much broader protest at the loss of the natural world around us, as well as a celebration of the creatures and plants with which we share our lives, in all their wonderful, characterful glory."
We use Twinkl Phonics scheme. Level 1 is taught in Nursery and Levels 2 to 4 in Reception. We use ‘Rhino Readers’ reading book scheme to enhance this, alongside ‘Big Cat Collins’.
We use ‘Dough Disco’ in Nursery to develop motor skills. ‘Squiggle Whilst You Wiggle’ is used across Nursery and Reception for motor skills.
We broadly follow White Rose for Maths.
We also strive for children to develop the qualities of ‘A Rufford Park Learner’:
L – looks for challenge
E – eager
A – always has a go
R – ready to learn
N – never gives up
IMPACT:
Children will develop three characteristics of effective learning that are:
- Playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.
- Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties.
- Creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas and develop strategies for doing things.
They will be assessed against Development Matters outlines ‘checkpoints’ for children at the ages 3 and 4.
At the end of Reception children will be assessed against Early Learning Goals, a statutory assessment.
Children achieving the Early Learning Goals in PSE, CLL, L, M are classified as having a ‘good level’ of development.