Early Years Foundation Stage
We believe that the child's parents are the first and most important teachers of their children. Together with you, we aim to work in partnership to provide a secure, friendly atmosphere with clear ideas and expectations.
At St Willibrord's we have an Early Year Foundation Stage Unit. This means that whilst children are in Nursery and Reception they are in the same building. We have 69 places in the unit (39 Nursery, 30 Reception) and 11 staff (some of whom are part time). The children have access to all areas of the curriculum (both indoors and out) at all times. Children are split into Nursery and Reception for teaching and all have a key worker.
The Foundation Stage team work together, to provide a broad and balanced curriculum. This is divided into seven areas. There are three prime areas:
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
• Communication and Language.
• Physical Development.
and four specific areas:
• Literacy Development.
• Mathematical Development.
• Understanding the World.
• Expressive Arts and Design.
Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected.
Learning takes place both inside and outside and each plays a key role in supporting and extending children's development and learning.
Assessment
On entry to the Nursery and Reception classes all children will be assessed to enable teaching staff to provide a teaching programme appropriate to each child's individual abilities. They follow the EYFS guidelines to collecting evidence to inform curriculum planning to ensure that at the end of Reception most children should be achieving the Early Learning goals. Formal assessment of the EYFS profile is completed at the end of Reception, these results are sent through to the Local authority. Your child will be formally and informally assessed throughout their time at school so that staff can plan effectively for their learning. Targets will be sent home and discussed with parents/carers.
Parents are informed of these statutory profile results and we provide the opportunity to discuss progress regularly at parent meetings. These are held termly for all the children in both nursery and reception.
Parents comments are invaluable and we encourage all parents to use the homework journals and discussion with staff to share their child’s achievements.