Early Years Foundation Stage
At St Vincent’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that the Early Years are the beginning of an exciting journey of discovery, growth and learning.
Our EYFS provides the strong foundations from which every child can achieve, belong and thrive. We create a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment where children feel safe, valued and confident to explore, ask questions, make friends and discover the joy of learning.
Rooted in our Catholic mission to “Let Your Light Shine”, we celebrate every child as a unique and precious individual. We take time to know each child well, build strong relationships with families and ensure that every child receives the support, encouragement and challenge they need to flourish.
A strong start
We know that the experiences children have in the early years make a significant difference to their future learning.
Our EYFS curriculum is carefully planned around the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and provides a rich balance of purposeful play, adult-led learning, exploration and high-quality interactions.
We place particular emphasis on developing:
- communication and language
- vocabulary and listening skills
- personal, social and emotional development
- early reading and phonics
- early mathematical understanding
- physical development
- independence and confidence.
These essential foundations enable children to become successful learners and prepare them for the next stage of their education.
A curriculum that inspires curiosity
Our Reception curriculum is built around the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework.
The prime areas are:
- Communication and Language
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Physical Development.
The specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design.
Learning is carefully sequenced so that children build knowledge, vocabulary and skills over time. Teachers plan exciting experiences that capture children's interests while ensuring that important knowledge and concepts are deliberately taught.
We want children to develop a growing understanding of themselves, their families, their community and the wider world.
Learning through play
Play is a vital part of childhood and an important way in which young children learn.
Our learning environment provides children with opportunities to investigate, create, imagine, solve problems, communicate and collaborate. Children learn through a balance of child-initiated play, purposeful activities and carefully planned adult-led learning.
Our skilled practitioners know when to step in, when to step back and when to introduce a new idea, question or challenge. Through conversations, modelling and carefully chosen vocabulary, adults extend children's thinking and help them make connections in their learning.
We provide opportunities for children to learn both indoors and outdoors, developing their confidence, independence and curiosity.
Developing confident learners
We want our children to become enthusiastic and independent learners from the very beginning of their school journey.
We nurture the Characteristics of Effective Learning, helping children to:
- play and explore
- become active and motivated learners
- create, think critically and solve problems.
These characteristics help children develop resilience, curiosity, creativity and perseverance. They also support children in becoming confident learners who are willing to have a go, learn from mistakes and try again.
Every child matters
We know that every child starts school with their own experiences, strengths, interests and needs.
Our staff take time to get to know each child and work closely with families to understand what will help them succeed. We use high-quality adaptive teaching and targeted support to ensure that children who are disadvantaged, vulnerable or have additional needs are supported to participate fully and make strong progress.
We have high expectations for every child and celebrate individual achievements and progress. We want every child to feel that they belong, that they are capable and that their contribution is valued.
Reading, language and mathematics
We place a particularly strong emphasis on developing language, early reading and mathematics because these skills provide the foundations for future learning.
Children develop their phonological awareness and early reading skills through our systematic phonics approach. Stories, rhymes, songs, conversation and rich vocabulary are woven throughout the day, helping children become confident communicators and enthusiastic readers.
In mathematics, children develop a strong understanding of number, pattern, shape, space and measure through practical experiences, purposeful play and carefully planned teaching.
Assessment and next steps
Assessment is an integral part of our EYFS practice.
Through observation, interaction and discussion, staff build a detailed understanding of what each child knows, understands and can do. This enables us to identify next steps, address misconceptions and provide appropriate support and challenge.
We celebrate children's achievements and use what we learn about them to shape future teaching. At the end of Reception, teachers complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, making professional judgements against the Early Learning Goals.
A journey that continues
The learning journey does not stop at the end of Reception.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced from Nursery through Reception and into Year 1, ensuring that children build securely on what they already know and experience a smooth transition into the National Curriculum.
We work closely with our Year 1 teachers to ensure that children's learning continues seamlessly. The knowledge, vocabulary, independence and learning behaviours developed in the EYFS provide a strong foundation for the years ahead.
Let Your Light Shine
Our ambition is for every child to leave the EYFS as a confident, curious and happy learner who is ready for the next stage of their journey.
We want children to know that they are loved, valued and capable of achieving great things. We want them to develop the confidence to try, the resilience to persevere and the curiosity to keep discovering.
From their very first days at St Vincent’s, we encourage every child to achieve, belong and thrive, and to begin their journey of letting their light shine.
Characteristics of effective learning
Knowledge and skills are built on from nursery to reception and there is clear progression through to year one in each National Curriculum subject. You can see an overview of progression below:
EYFS Geography progression grid
EYFS Computing progression grid
Reception Long Term Skills Progression Grid
Curriculum Intent
Enrichments
