EYFS

Our vision for Early Years

At Chidham Parochial Primary School we want children to become confident and capable learners. We use a broad and balanced curriculum to foster a love of learning. We endeavor to build self-esteem, encourage independence, develop language skills, pose challenges and support each child to help them to reach their full potential in a nurturing and engaging environment.

“It’s really important that we help children have a very strong sense of who they are”

Dr Valora Washington

What does our curriculum look like?

Research shows that children learn best with a balance of child-initiated play and carefully planned adult led activities. At Chidham Parochial Primary School we have taken this approach to create a bespoke curriculum that is constantly evolving as we learn more about the children and their families in each class. The Cornerstones Curriculum provides a stimulating and creative foundation, which we then build upon, recognising the need and interests of our children. This fluid curriculum draws upon the children’s prior experiences and is organised in such a way that allows for personalised, inclusive planning and progression of key skills.

“Learning is joyful and exciting, when it occurs naturally”

Peter Gray

The Early Years Foundation Stage

The Revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children’s learning from birth to five years (to the end of the academic year in which your child has their fifth birthday). The fundamental aspects of learning that are recognised in this are building children’s language and vocabulary as well as providing children with the skills to manage their emotions and well-being. We strive to foster an environment and skills-based approach to build a readiness to learn.

The EYFS is an integrated, play and activity-based curriculum, culminating in assessment against the Early Learning Goals and built around seven areas of learning, with the prime areas being: Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The specific areas that the prime areas are then explored are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design. At Chidham Parochial Primary School we ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. We have recognised the key changes in the EYFS and ensure equality, early communication and children’s health & well-being are a priority. Adults spend quality time observing, guiding, shaping and celebrating the children in their play.

“Children need to feel safe by having natural limits set for them, but they also need to have space and time to play, unhindered by adult fears, in order to truly flourish”

Angela J. Hansom

What are our topics?

Once the children have settled in the Autumn term and built relationships with their peers, we may cross the sea in a hot air balloon to explore new and exciting countries, dive under the ocean, get our boots dirty on the farm, discover what lies beneath the soil, fight dragons and pirate…the exciting opportunities are endless to help move our learning forward. Play is the learning of young children. Through carefully structured activities, they have the opportunity to ‘discover’ new concepts, practice ideas and give reality to their learning.  The play is supported by structured whole class sessions on phonics, reading and mathematics.

“Play is an intrinsic part of being human”

Michael Rosen

Which phonics scheme do we use?

At our school we follow the ‘Little Wandle, Letters and Sounds Revised’ systematic, synthetic phonics programme. We fully support the key concept and vision of this ‘Learn to read – read to learn’. This carefully planned and assessed sequenced learning helps move the children forward, acquire a wide vocabulary and understand the grammar and linguistic conventions for reading whilst building language skills.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go”

Dr Seuss

How do we celebrate the children’s learning?

Throughout their year in Reception we compile a ‘Learning Journal’ for each child and track each child’s progress and celebrate achievements.  All adults in Reception play a key role in moving the children forward, recognising their strengths and developing their recognised areas of need. We use Seesaw to share key messages, ‘How to’ videos and photos of the children’s learning. At the end of the year, we use all the information we have collected to complete each child’s Foundation stage profile.

“Play is the highest form of research”

Albert Einstein

Please see our latest new parent information leaflet by clicking here.

Please read our EYFS policy