Early Years Foundation Stage
Early Years at St Gregory's Catholic Primary School has been awarded the Early Years Quality Mark.
Learning in the Foundation Stage
At St. Gregory's we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS).
This curriculum is based upon four themes and principles.
Unique Child - Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.
Positive Relationships - Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Enabling Environments - 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 and carers.
Learning and Development - Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Unique Child - Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.
Positive Relationships - Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Enabling Environments - 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 and carers.
Learning and Development - Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The Curriculum
There are 3 prime areas and 4 specific areas of learning in the Foundation Stage framework curriculum. In the 2 Year and 3-4 Year old Nursery provision, the focus is on the 3 Prime areas. Both settings are equipped with both age and developmentally appropriate resources to meet the individual children's .
In Reception, the focus begins to be on the Specific areas once the Prime areas are embedded.
In all EYFS settings within St Gregory's, children spend their time within a free flow enabling environment between indoors and outdoors, and through both adult led and child initiated activities.
Prime Areas
Prime Areas
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
What sort of things will children learn during the Foundation Stage?
In the Prime Areas children will learn to:-- Share, take turns and develop respect for each other.
- Make friends and become confident independent learners.
- Behave appropriately when playing with others.
- Listen to others and understand spoken language.
- Learn new words rapidly and use them in conversations.
- Join in converstaions with adults and children.
- Develop control of their bodies using both large scale movements such as running and jumping, and small scale movements such as holding pencils and using scissors.
In the Specific Areas:-
- Enjoy sharing books and stories with adults and friends.
- Read words and simple sentences (Reception children).
- Draw, make marks, write letters and words.
- Count accurately groups of objects and recognise numerals.
- Add, subtract and problem solve during practical activities.
- Use everyday language to talk about size, weight, capacity, distance, time and money.
- Look closely at how things work, why things happen, living things and the natural world.
- Use ICT equipment, e.g. programmable toys and computers.
- Be imaginative, sing songs, dance and create fantastic models, drawings and paintings.
What will children do during a Nursery or Reception class session?
Your child will take part in a wide range of activities, both indoors and outdoors. Your child will learn through activities he or she has chosen, or from those that are led by an adult. Children in the Foundation Stage learn through play based activities that are fun and enjoyable. These activites are supported by caring adults who will work closely wih you to ensure your child makes progress. We keep careful progress records for each child which are linked to the Development Matters in the Foundation Stage Guidance. Parents are actively encouraged to contribute to their child's learning journals.
How you can help your child
- Encourage and praise them because they need to feel successful
- Look at their work and help them with their homework where necessary
- Come into school whenever you can - such as assemblies, fayres, play and stay sessions. Children really love to see you in school
- Always encourage your child o take pride in their work
- Take time to share a book with them - take them to the library regularly. Talk about what they areading at school.
- Encourage good manners and respect at all times to everyone in and out of school
- Ensure that all contact information is up to date
- Make sure that we are aware of any medical problems
- Let us know immediately if you child is absent
- Let us know if you have a change in home circumstances - this information will kept confidential
- Make sure your child is in school on time every day
- Send your child into school in the correct school uniform
- Send your child in with their PE kits
- Ensure that homework books and reading books are returned to school daily
- Make sure that everything is named clearly
- Check your child's hair regularly
- If there is a change in the person collecting your child, please let us know!
Parents in school
When families support their children with their learning they make better progress, so we are very keen to get you involved in school life wherever possible. We encourage parents to bring their child into their classroom each morning. This provides children and their parents with daily opportunities to share a book together, look at the children's work and big floor books, etc. Parents are invited into Foundation Stage each morning from 8.45am, but please leave by 8.55am so that we can start our day. We hold termly parents evenings and stay and play sessions. On top of this there are fayres and shows, sports days, coffee afternoons and church services.
Family Support
At St. Gregory's we try to work closely with each pupil's family to ensure that all of their needs are met. We have a strong team of staff to carry out this role. Mrs Green and Miss Blanchard liase with families. We also have access to family support workers via the Children Centre.
EYFS Times
Nursery
Morning - 8.45 am - 11.45 am Afternoon - 12.30 pm - 3.30 pm
Reception
Morning - 8.55 am - 11.55 am Afternoon - 1.00 pm - 3.15 pm
Useful documents for Early Years Foundation Stage
EYFS Curriculum long term overviews
EYFS Policy
EYFS Statutory Framework