EYFS Information

INTRODUCTION

Our EYFS Curriculum has been designed to reflect our children’s interests, the seasons of the year, nature, culture and environments around our school. It aims to teach the children how their environment compares to other places, cultures and nature in other parts of the world. It is therefore unique to East Dene Primary school. Each topic planned is included in the curriculum for very specific reasons and we want to ensure that all children leaving the EYFS are ready to start our KS1 curriculum. Each topic does not last a specific amount of time but is based on the children’s learning at the time, and so a topic can run from anything between two and seven weeks. All the topics have resources and activities ready to use in the continuous provision. Topics are introduced with a good quality storybook or an age appropriate non – fiction text. Using books in this way teaches children that books and reading form the basis of all learning.

This ambitious Early Year’s curriculum aims to teach all children the skills and knowledge in order that they reach the seventeen Early Learning Goals described in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. We teach through a range of teaching strategies including child-initiated learning, whole class teaching, group teaching, investigations, enquiries and problem solving together, and independently. All activities are modelled, and children are given sufficient time, support and resources to repeat and practise them.

Personal Social and Emotional Development

We strive to enable children to be safe, happy, confident individuals. We also encourage self-regulation as much as possible and introduce rules and boundaries through modelling good behaviour and reflection time.

Physical Development

Our outdoor environment and grounds is used us to make the most of the outdoors and we encourage children to learn outside as much as possible. Our intention is that children learn how to take measured risks and they are given access to our whole playground and outdoor area. We encourage children to learn about nature and look after their environment through high quality resources.  There is a well-established and comprehensive PE curriculum, which includes sessions from a qualified coach. Children are taught about the importance of regular exercise and healthy eating, and are encouraged to join in with whole-school sports initiatives such as intra-school competitions, and dough gym, wake up and move, every morning.

Communication and Language

At East Dene Primary language and communication underpins all learning. Children are encouraged to listen and communicate appropriately. We enhance the classroom and outdoor area to reflect the topic learnt. Each topic encompasses enhancements to the learning environment that include role-play areas, small-world play and story-making tables to encourage the children to act out scenarios and discuss concepts being learnt. This helps children learn and use new vocabulary introduced through the topics. Children are encouraged to ask questions and contribute to whole-class and group discussion whenever possible. Children who need support to communicate are supported within the provision and learning interventions are used when children are below the age-appropriate skills. We display new vocabulary daily through Victor Vocab displays which is then included in direct lesson planning.

Reading

We teach children to read and develop a love of books as soon as they arrive at East dene Primary School, and books are used to teach topics and to enhance our whole curriculum.

We follow a systematic approach to phonics teaching based on Read Write Inc. Phonics lessons are taught daily. In addition to daily phonics, children take part in guided reading daily in small groups. They read reading books are based around the phonics phase being taught. A short phonics task and reading book is taken home weekly. Children are also encouraged to take home age-appropriate picture books from the class books, these are changed each half-term to reflect the different seasons, topics taught and children’s interests. Teachers read stories to children from high quality age-appropriate texts at every available opportunity. These books are then used to enhance the learning environment and reading area. Children who need support with phonics are encouraged each morning to access a phonics activity is set up  where individual children’s next steps are addressed. This is facilitated with a member of staff who delivers a short session each day.

Writing

We introduce mark making activities straight away, and teach handwriting alongside the Read Write Inc phonics programme. Each child has a RWI book where they are taught a pre-cursive style. Guided writing activities are also taught in groups. These include writing topic words, lists, captions and short narratives.  Guided writing activities are based on the topic being taught and the class book is used as a basis for writing. Children are also encouraged to write in the provision in the role-play area, writing area, maths area, and outdoors. The children are provided with a range of pencils, pens, and other media to encourage them to write as much as possible. Our aim is to inspire children to write independently after they have been introduced to writing skills in their guided writing sessions.

Mathematics

Children are taught maths through guided group work and whole-class activities. We also use maths enhancement activities in the different areas in the classroom, including the outdoors. The main aim of the maths curriculum is to teach children to be able to subitise numbers to ten automatically as soon as possible. We begin by concentrating on one number a week , with the aim that children have a better understanding of one digit numbers before they move on to place value, calculation and arithmetic later in the year. Children also learn shape, space and measure skills and knowledge through guided work and as activities in the enhanced provision. The first term’s Magnificent Me topic introduces all the basic shapes and we feel introduces mathematical concepts to the children from the very start of their learning with us. Children who need extra help with mathematics are targeted in the provision by key members of staff. Each morning a maths activity is set up in continuous provision with certain children’s next steps in mind. Those children who need extra teaching are encouraged to the activity with a member of staff who facilitates a short teaching session.

We work hard to ensure the children are ready for the National Curriculum by the end of the Reception year.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

We strive to give children knowledge about the immediate world around them and the rest of the world. Science investigations and observations are a continuous part of our curriculum, children are encouraged to question and observe the world around them. Geography is taught, including maps and countries of the world, through our Celebrations and Wider World topics. We take a trip every year to the seaside, farm and the local park to look at a contrasting environments, we introduce the children to history learning through our Magnificent Me  topic. For example, we look at old and new buildings and how buildings have changed over time. We teach RE throughout the year based on celebrations that include all our children’s beliefs, Eid, The Diwali story, The Christmas story and The Easter Story so that children are introduced to different belief systems.

Expressive Arts and Design

We want children to sing songs, make music, dance and perform. We have regular musical events.Children are given time to play imaginative games and make up stories, songs and dances.

In art, the children are taught how to safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function. We study artists and experience workshops by real artists. Child-initiated art activities are encouraged during continuous provision as well as art and crafts being taught by the staff. We endeavour that children leave Reception with good art skills, as well as encouraging them to use their own ideas and techniques in their art and design work.