The Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage department comprises the Assessment Nursery and up to three Reception classes. There are two nursery classes, admitting children from the age of two years six months until statutory school age.

Following multidisciplinary assessment children either remain at Severndale, or move to a range of mainstream placements. If not already in place, the Statutory Assessment is initiated at around the age of four years, in order that a Statement of Special Educational Need can be completed before school admission, if necessary

As in all schools, both the Nursery and the Reception classes follow the EYFS framework which works towards the Early Learning Goals. We also use a High/Scope model of active learning through motivating, exciting activities. We encourage children to make choices, solve problems, develop independence and have fun!.

All children benefit from regular input from the speech and language therapist, and children receive physiotherapy and hydrotherapy when appropriate.

Assessment Nursery

The Assessment Nursery at Severndale is part of the Early Years Foundation Stage, admitting children from the term in which they are three years old until statutory school age. Following multidisciplinary assessment, children either move into Severndale full-time or to a range of mainstream placements. The Nursery classes work within the EYFS framework, encouraging children through active learning to make plans, solve problems and begin to reflect on their work. All children are encouraged to be as independent as they can be both in personal care and during activities. Children learn new skills whilst their educational needs are being assessed.

All groups within the department use the facilities available in school – pool, interactive room, sensory garden and soft play room. Outdoor activities are an important part of our curriculum, acknowledging the link between physical development and thinking skills in young children. We have a wide range of resources to use outdoors, which are planned on a rolling programme, to develop exploration, investigation, knowledge and understanding of the world, as well as physical skills.

We value the importance of working closely with parents and carers, providing opportunities each term for parents to come into school and meet each other and staff, we hold open afternoons and workshops including Makaton courses alongside the regular assessment meetings to discuss children’s progress.