Intent
At Stretton Handley CE Primary School, we recognise the importance of giving our children the best possible start to their education by planning and implementing teaching and learning opportunities that support them in reaching their full potential. We understand the crucial role that Early Year’s education has to play in providing firm foundations upon which the rest of a child’s
education is successfully based. It is our intention to provide a broadly enriched, rounded and stimulating learning environment, indoors and outdoors, where children can work with adults and peers in a climate of mutual respect to develop confidence in their ability to learn, the social skills necessary to learn and the emotional capabilities to enable them to understand their feelings and to solve problems. This will enable them to develop the skills, attitudes and understanding that will
form the basis of lifelong learning and encourage them to become useful, active members of a diverse and constantly changing society.
Implementation
We recognise that children will learn most effectively when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. We aim to provide a setting that encompasses a safe and stimulating environment where children are able to enjoy learning and grow in confidence that helps them to achieve their potential.
Each half term, EYFS staff introduce a new theme to provide inspiration for learning, whilst
providing the flexibility for children to follow their own interests and ideas. Children learn through a
balance of child-initiated and adult-directed activities. The timetable is carefully structured so that children have directed teaching during the day. The timetable changes throughout the year to take into consideration the changing needs of the children. These sessions are followed by small focused group work. This means the teacher can systematically check for understanding, identify and respond to misconceptions quickly and provide real-time verbal feedback which results in a strong impact on the acquisition of new learning.
Children are provided with plenty of time to engage in ‘exploration’ throughout the variety of
experiences carefully planned to engage and challenge them in the provision. The curriculum is
planned for the inside and outside classrooms and equal importance is given to learning in both
areas.
Impact
Our children will be actively engaged in their learning and the enjoyment of this learning will be apparent in their daily provision. All children will have experienced a curriculum that provides exciting and enriching learning experiences and opportunities for them to learn through educational visits and practical experiences. Our young learners will be able to appreciate and understand the world around them by experiencing and learning about different cultures, celebrations, music, dance, art and history. Children will actively ask questions about the world around them and their learning experiences. They will be able to take risks as this is an opportunity to learn. Our Early Years children will be successful learners and fully prepared for the next stage of their education as they transition from Early Years Foundation Stage into Key Stage One. We know that by the end of Foundation Stage at Stretton Handley CE Primary School, our children will have developed the essential knowledge and skills required for everyday life and lifelong learning.