The Early Years Foundation Stage at Eldon

At Eldon, we offer high quality early education from two year old provision to Reception and we are committed to giving children the best possible start to their education. 

We have a distinct and balanced approach – we combine securing strong foundations in Reading, Writing and Maths, with early years best practice – learning through play, enabling environments, outdoor learning, and teaching though adult-child interactions. The balance shifts as children move through the year groups. Our provision is developmentally appropriate, and children are taught the skills they need throughout. Expectations are stepped up at each stage, and we build on previous learning, ensuring progress. Language development, underpinned by high quality adult-child interactions, is central to everything we do.

Language and communication

Communication and language are at the heart of our Early Year provision. We are committed to developing children’s language, vocabulary and confidence through a language rich environment and high quality interactions with adults. Throughout the day, children are provided with many opportunities to listen, talk and communication through stories, songs, rhymes, conversations and play. Our adults observe children closely and sensitively join in with their play, extending their language, thinking and understanding. We carefully consider how our learning environments, daily routines, focused activities and targeted interventions can support language development. We recognise that every interaction is an opportunity for learning and ensure that communication and language are woven throughout all aspects of our provision, from our 2 year old provision to Reception.  Through this approach, we aim to develop confident, independent and resilient learners who are curious, eager to explore and willing to have a go.

 

Phonics

Phonics is an important part of Early Years curriculum, laying the foundations for children to become confident readers and writers. Our phonics teaching begins in our 2 year old provision and nursery, where children develop their listening skills and ability to discriminate between sounds through a range of experiences and activities, including songs and rhymes. Children in our nursery follow the foundations for phonics Little Wandle Programme, introducing letter sounds during the Summer Term. In Reception, children begin formal Little Wandle phonics sessions from the start of the year. These take place daily as a whole class session, following a systematic approach to teaching phonics. Children are regularly assessed to monitor their progress, and daily catch-up sessions run to support pupils to keep up with the programme. Children take home a reading book each day that is carefully matched to the sounds they have been taught in phonics. Through this consistent approach, we aim to develop children’s confidence, enjoyment and early skills in reading and writing.  

 

Enjoyment of Reading

We believe that developing a love of reading from an early stage is fundamental to children’s learning and future. High quality texts are carefully selected and used during writing sessions. These books provide rich opportunities for children to develop their vocabulary, deepen their understanding and comprehension and engage in discussions. We also promote a love of reading through daily story times. Children also have regular opportunities to take a library book to share at home.

 

Writing

In Early years, we provide a range of opportunities to develop early writing skills. We encourage children to develop their confidence in mark making and provide many opportunities for children to develop their fine and gross motor skills. Through our sentence curriculum, children are taught how to build and structure sentences through oral rehearsal, vocabulary choices and developing understanding of a sentence structure. Children are encouraged to say a sentence aloud, hold their ideas in their head and apply these skills to their writing.

Handwriting is taught through daily focused sessions using the Little Wandle handwriting scheme. These sessions support children to develop correct letter formation, pencil control and increasing fluency.

 

Maths

In Early Years, we develop children’s mathematical understanding through concrete, meaningful experiences that build strong foundations for future learning. We use the NCETM Mastering Number programme in Reception, which focuses on developing children’s number sense and secure understanding of mathematical concepts. This approach continues throughout the school, building progressively on children’s prior learning. Our teaching is supplemented by carefully planned activities and practical experiences that support children’s learning need. We place particular emphasis on understanding of numbers, mathematical language and their ability to explain and reason.

 

Our Early Years Curriculum

Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and Development Matters guidance, along with children’s interests and developmental needs. It is designed to provide children with the foundational knowledge, skills and understanding they need to prepare them for Key Stage 1 and beyond. Our curriculum is concept driven, with learning carefully planned around focus texts and enriched through our continuous provision. Learning through play is central to our approach, providing meaningful opportunities for children to explore, investigate, discover and develop understanding in our enabling environments, both indoor and outdoor. We recognise the benefits of outdoor learning for children’s health, wellbeing and development. It enables children to experience the natural world and engage in active  learning, take appropriate risks and challenges.