Children start in the Early Years Foundation Stage when they are 3. 3 and 4 year olds are taught in FS1 before they move on to FS2 where they are taught until they reach the age of 5.
FS1 and FS2 follow the EYFS curriculum.
The EYFS is all about developing key skills – speaking and listening (Communication and Language), playing and taking turns (PSED) and learning to control their bodies (Physical Development). Alongside these Prime Areas of Learning, children develop early skills in Reading and Writing. They explore and find out about the world around them. They discover and enjoy different ways of showing their learning in creative ways. We provide them with a rich variety of activities, both indoors and out, that match their needs and interests. Learning is linked to termly topics but the children’s own ideas and thoughts ideas often direct where the topic leads.
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that every child is a unique child, and we are committed in providing a high-quality early year’s education which gives children a secure and confident start to their school life and nurtures a lifelong love of learning where children will be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Intent
Our Foundation Stage aims to:
- Create a happy, secure and fun environment in which all children feel safe and cared for.
- Provide a rich and stimulating environment both within the indoor and outdoor setting in which all children can meet their full potential and grow as confident, keen, independent learners.
- Focus on the development of every child as an individual, valuing and building on their previous experiences and responding to their individual needs by planning learning activities, which are challenging and enjoyable experiences for each child in all areas of learning and development both within our indoor and outdoor setting.
- Provide stimulating activities for the children, as well as planning activities to match children’s interests.
- Provide rich learning opportunities through a mix of adult led activities and child led activities.
- Ensure that visits and visitors are planned into every topic in order to provide our children with hands on practical experiences.
- Prepare, enhance and offer opportunities for all children including the disadvantaged to develop their cultural capital in order for them to develop the knowledge they will need to prepare them for their future success.
- Ensure that children experience the awe and wonder of the world in which they live, through the seven areas of learning. (Ofsted Early Years Inspection Handbook,Sept 2019)
- Build positive relationships between staff, children and parents/carers to ensure that all children reach their full potential.
- Provide good foundations for later learning to support Reading, Writing, and Maths within school.
- Encourage good social relationships, developing self-esteem and respect for others
- Ensure that every child is included and supported in order to ensure that all children make good progress and that their achievements are celebrated.
- Ensure that every child has a language rich environment which promotes language strengthening and development.
- Strengthen literacy and numeracy outcomes to ensure all children have a good grasp of these areas of learning in preparation for Year 1
