Reception (age 4-5 years)
Whether moving up from our Nursery or joining the school from elsewhere, the priority in Reception is to come together happily and adapt successfully to a full day at school.
The Reception Class is an engaging and stimulating environment, where lots of opportunities for purposeful play combined with a mix of planned practical and more formal teaching, help children develop a love of learning to carry them forward throughout the school.
The adjoining rooms and their outside area give plenty of room to play and explore and offer a safe and nurturing space which serves as a base for the children to be able to explore the extensive school grounds, including regular outdoor sessions on the school’s own Forest School.
What is the EYFS Curriculum?
The EYFS curriculum is delivered creatively through a topic-based approach geared to the children’s interests, with a strong emphasis on the core skills of Reading, Writing and Mathematics, and lots of opportunities for discovery and creativity. Children are encouraged to become independent thinkers and to develop a ‘can do’ approach to learning. Small class sizes mean that staff know the children really well and tailor the learning to meet their individual needs.
The curriculum is enhanced by having a variety of lessons taught by specialist teachers including:
- Music
- Swimming
- PE
- French
We value the rapport gained from the daily contact with parents, and parents are kept involved in their child’s education through daily reading, home learning challenges, and Tapestry, an online learning journal.
Key Stage 1 (Year 1 & Year 2)
In Years 1 and 2, teaching and learning become more formal as children develop confidence in their skills and knowledge and become increasingly independent learners.
Though each child is encouraged to learn at his/her own pace, emphasis on a structured programme in:
- Literacy
- Phonics
- Numeracy
This is to ensure that the essential skills are thoroughly learned and reinforced. Individual talents and strengths are recognised, nurtured and extended, and focused specialist support is given to those whose confidence is still emerging.
