Early Years Foundation Stage at Paddock
The Early Years curriculum is made up of 7 areas of learning, which has been broken down into a further 17 strands. We use this guidance in order to develop our bespoke curriculum, ensuring that every child who attends our early years is provided with a secure foundation for learning. This gives them what they need today, as well as the skills and knowledge to succeed through their primary education and beyond.
It is vital that a child’s prime areas are focused on during their earliest years and as these become well embedded, each child’s learning will begin to focus on the specific areas of learning.
The children learn through a combination of whole class teaching sessions and small group or individual work with an adult as well as through quality free-flow play activities, indoors and outdoors, known as “continuous provision”. During the continuous provision sessions, the children can develop their own play ideas alone or with others and try out or rehearse new learning in their own space and time. The outdoor space allows opportunities for the children to develop in all seven areas but often on a larger, messier and often noisier scale!
Child-Led Learning in Nursery
Our Nursery provides the best start for our pupils through a play-based, child-led curriculum which follows their interests and caters for their ongoing developmental needs. We adopt a child-led learning approach using the Anna Ephgrave’s ‘planning in the moment’ model based on the principle that children learn best when they are following their own interests.
We use the Birth To 5 Matters framework that covers the statutory learning and development requirements within the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Our pupils have access to high-quality provision both indoors and outdoors which is carefully planned and led by a team of highly-skilled staff. Within our provision, our Nursery pupils are able to play, enquire, explore, create, experiment, learn and develop their social and communication skills.
A range of opportunities and experiences are provided throughout the year to support our children to confidently develop a range of skills, knowledge and understanding across all areas of learning.
Alongside these, we learn about the following as they fall within the academic year;
We also cover additional one-off events that may take place throughout the year ensuring a holistic curriculum offer where the children can celebrate similarities and embrace difference.
Knowledge Organisers
Our Knowledge Organisers capture the key information, terminology, and dates or quotes for a topic. The information on a Knowledge Organiser is the minimum that needs to be known, rehearsed and stored over time in the long-term memory in order for our pupils to become fluent in the material. It is a given that plenty of other technical vocabulary and facts will be encountered and learnt through the topic.
Prime Areas - Nursery
Prime Areas - Reception
Specific Areas - Nursery
Specific Areas - Reception
Home Learning
We feel that it is hugely important for parents to be as involved as possible with their child’s education and for us to form an effective home school partnership. Doing this, allows you to keep up to date with what your child is doing in school and it provides opportunities for this learning to continue at home. We will regularly provide activities that you can do with your child to help them practise and apply their skills using a real-life context.