Early Years Foundation Stage
Diversity information
Within the early years setting we cater to a wide range of children with a diversity of special needs from PMLD through to moderate learning difficulties.
The journey for the student through the department
All children deserve the very best start to their educational journey, starting within an early years setting between the ages of 2 ½ to 5 years of age. Throughout each phase of the Early Years Foundation Stage, children are supported and encouraged to develop their communication, interaction and emerging independence skills ready for the next part of their learning journey. This includes all Early Years students across different diversities; Pre-Formal, Semi-Formal and Formal.
Our curriculum
The key features of our EYFS provision is a child-centred approach in partnership with families and multi-agency working. Children are masters of exploration and investigation, showing curiosity in their environment.
We aim to harness this through providing a creative curriculum with a rich and stimulating learning environment which: promotes children’s curiosity and love of learning; recognises and develops their individual needs and supports and celebrates each child’s unique strengths and abilities.
Our approach is underpinned by our commitment to support our learners to develop positive relationships and facilitate meaningful learning experiences rooted in play and exploring the world around them.
Students in Early Years have access to a range of environments and facilities in school including; purposeful outdoor learning environments; sensory gardens, on-site Forest School area; soft play rooms; warm swim facilities; interactive tropical garden, a specialist interactive room and a motion sensory room.
Curriculum offer and focus
The areas of learning are:
- communication and language
- physical development
- personal, social and emotional development
- literacy
- mathematics
- understanding the world
- expressive arts and design
Assessment
Assessment is based on classroom observations using the early years framework.
The intended outcome
Developing ‘characteristics of effective learning’ in children underpins the EYFS approach. This also plays a central role in nurturing and developing students’ skills and aptitude for learning. Students develop the skills to be able to share spaces, make choices and nurture their independence skills.
We aim to promote teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and give children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
