‘The goal of early childhood education should be to activate the child’s own natural desire to learn.’
Maria Montessori
Intent
At St Anne’s CE Primary School, we recognise and value the benefits and successes that an excellent Early Years can bring. As a Church of England school, we encourage a community of love, respect and compassion enabling our youngest children to flourish together. We pride ourselves on listening to our children and those who care for them and using the information to personalise each child’s learning. We believe that every child is unique and should be treated so, allowing them the opportunity to develop and learn in a nurturing environment where play and learning is one.
We offer an ambitious curriculum rich in wonder and memorable experiences; while working hard to provide a stimulating environment that provides exciting opportunities, promotes challenge, exploration, adventure and a real love of learning. It is our intent that children develop physically, verbally, cognitively, emotionally and spiritually in an environment which values all cultures, communities and people. We aim for our children to be confident and independent, to believe in themselves and interact positively with others. Play is an integral part of learning and with the correct mix of adult directed and uninterrupted child-initiated play we provide firm foundations upon which the rest of a child’s education is successfully based.
‘The first five years have so much to do with how the next eighty turn out.’
Bill Gates Sr.
Implementation
At St Anne’s CE primary School, we meet the welfare requirements laid down in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and actively safeguard and promote the welfare of all of our children.
The curriculum the children experience is determined not only by the intentions set out above but how those intentions are delivered. The objectives from the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile are skilfully translated into discrete teaching and sequences of learning that are delivered to pupils. Through the enhanced provision plan and responsive planning, all staff are also able to effectively respond to children’s interests and provide a good balance of continuous provision and adult-planned activities. Our learning environment is adaptable in order to reflect the children’s progression and interests and encourages the children learn to work together, manage their feelings and asks questions through skilled adult facilitated play.
Our ambitious curriculum is taught through a range of core texts and seasonal themes which are enriched with enhancements, visitors and trips. The curriculum is based on the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning and the four overarching principles in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
We prioritise a ‘language rich’ environment through listening to stories, poetry, nursery rhymes and songs. Enhanced and ambitious vocabulary is promoted through literature and quality interactions with skilled adults who work hard to develop communication and language, gathering words at pace in order for children to become confident communicators.
Reading is at the heart of the curriculum and children are encouraged to become early readers through the enjoyment of books and the systematic teaching of phonics through the Read Write Inc. programme. The aim is to expose children to a range of quality books that not only develop a love of reading, but have been specifically chosen to develop their oracy, vocabulary and comprehension. Core texts are embedded in our provision through activities and story sessions. The books are kept on display for the children to access independently. Through this, children begin to internalise new vocabulary, language patters and begin to retell stories.
At St Anne’s, our aim is for children to become confident mathematicians and ensure that practical equipment supports children’s grasp of number and develops an understanding of the link between concrete experience and visual and symbolic representations. Problem solving is modelled and scaffolded using prompts and techniques until children begin to work together to effectively solve problems and explain their thinking.
Both the indoor and outdoor environment has been designed to enable our children to develop and strengthen their core muscles through physical play, the children spend time outdoors in their natural environment and are encouraged to develop both curiosity and fascination with the world around them.
Impact
Children demonstrate high levels of engagement in activities, developing their speaking and listening skills, enabling them to access more areas of the learning and communicate to both adults and children. They develop skills across all areas of the curriculum including literacy, mathematics and physical development, using these skills in different ways. Providing access to a wider sense of the world around them allows them to draw on these experiences during interactions with others and link this to new learning. Children develop their characteristics of learning and are able to apply their knowledge to a range of situations by making links and explaining their ideas and understanding. Children are confident to take risks and discuss their successes and failures with adults, drawing on their experiences to improve or adjust what they are doing. Children leave our EYFS as well-rounded individuals who embody our values and carry with them the knowledge, skills and attitudes which will make them lifelong learners and valuable future citizens.
