Welcome to Early years Foundation Stage.
At West Meadows we welcome children from the age of 3 to start at our school. We offer morning, afternoons and 30 hours places. Visits to our school are warmly encouraged. We are a 30-place Reception class and a single-form entry school.
My name is Miss Jobling. I am the Reception teacher and also the SENDCO. I love sharing stories with the children and doing drawing club where I love to see the children’s magical code.
My name is Mrs McCormack. I am the Nursery teacher. I particularly enjoy sharing stories and poems with the children and talking about all the wonderful things the children do.
My name is Miss Kilner. I am the teaching assistant in Nursery. I also support the 30 hours at lunchtimes. I really enjoy going on the Wild Walk with the children and completing creative activities.
My name is Mrs Davis. I am a teaching assistant in Reception. I really enjoy being in the outdoors with the children and creative activities.
Planning
In the Early years Foundation Stage, we used the Statutory Framework for EYFS and Early Years Development Matters to form our observations, assessments, and planning. Both documents can be found below. There is also a great guide called ‘What to expect when’ which details the curriculum for parents and carers. At the end of the EYFS we use the Foundation Stage profile to assess children’s development.
- Statutory Framework EYFS https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1170108/EYFS_framework_from_September_2023.pdf
- Early years development Matters
- What to expect in the EYFS guide for parents
- EYFS profile
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65253bc12548ca000dddf050/EYFSP_2024_handbook.pdf
We develop our planning using a thematic yearly overview. This allows for flexibility to cater for children’s interests, needs and wider world events.
Autumn 1– All about me/Harvest/People who help us (Real life superheroes)
Autumn 2– Celebrations – Diwali/Bonfire night
Spring 1 – Winter- frozen, polar animals, Valentines/ Chinese New Year
Spring 2– Traditional tales / Mothers’ Day
Summer 1– Mini beasts / Fathers’ Day
Summer 2- Pirates/farm/animals
From our Long Term Plan we develop medium term plans which ensure coverage of the curriculum areas and aspects of learning. Within this we emphasis key vocabulary and concepts to be taught. Planning for each term can be found within the planning section.
Communication, Language and Literacy development
In the EYFS we have 20 core texts which are explored, read and used frequently within the unit. 10 texts are focused on in Nursery and the other 10 in Reception.
Nursery’s top 10 are:
- The Tiger Who Came to Tea
- Where’s Spot
- Whatever Next!
- I Want My Potty
- Room on the Broom
- Shark in the Park
- Meg and Mog
- Handa’s Surprise
- Each Peach, Pear Plum
- Dear Zoo
Reception’s top 10 are:
- Oi Frog!
- We’re Going on a Bear Hunt
- The Gruffalo
- Giraffes Can’t Dance
- Supertato
- The Fish Who Could Wish
- Zim Zam Zoom
- You Choose
- The Runaway Wok
- Lost and Found
How We Operate
Nursery
In Nursery we put a big focus on the prime areas of the curriculum, developing key lifelong skills and concepts. We have lots of things happening in Nursery- each day. we vote for stories and learn our poetry basket rhyme. Each week, we learn a rhyme and number rhyme. Every term, we have 5 rhymes to learn by heart. We use dough disco to develop our fine motor skills and also use story dough which takes children on imaginative and language rich journeys.
Every day we ask that your child brings a water bottle and a bag with spare clothes for changing into if required. Please label all coats, shoes, clothes and water bottles.
Each Friday we use our Wild Walk area. Your child will need wellies for this. This allows lots of opportunities to explore the natural world in hands on, real-life situations.
Reception
In Reception, we take part in daily phonics sessions using the Read Write Inc scheme alongside the rest of the school.
Our Maths teaching follows the HCAT Maths scheme alongside the rest of the school. We have a number of the week focus and have a math challenge area too.
We have lots of things happening in Reception and really enjoy all the creative activities. Each day, we vote for stories and join in the magic of story session. We join in helicopter stories, philosophy for children (P4C), Drawing Club and poetry basket throughout the week.
Every week, we use our Wild Walk area. This allows lots of opportunities to explore the natural world in hands-on, real-life situations.
Every Friday, we use the hall for our PE session. All children are allocated a house team when they start school. They wear their coloured t-shirt for PE lessons and sports day (the 1st one is provided by school).
Every day, we ask that your child brings a water bottle. Please label all coats, shoes, clothes and water bottles. Your child will need wellies in school for Wild Walk day.
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