Mrs Clare Hayes
EYFS lead
‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential.’
Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (September 2021)
At Grampound with Creed School, we aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all our children. We believe in offering our children an education rich in memorable experiences that allow their curiosity, creativity and individuality to grow. Through our rich learning environment, strong Christian vision and values, every child is encouraged to flourish and succeed whilst building a strong foundation for their future learning.
We recognise that children learn most effectively when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. It is our priority to provide an environment that is safe, inclusive and stimulating, where all children can enjoy learning and grow in confidence. Activities and experiences are provided in response to our observation of children’s needs, interests, and stages of development.
Our practice is under-pinned by the Characteristics of Effective Learning set out in the framework:
- Playing and exploring – children investigate and explore things, and ‘have a go’.
- Active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements.
- Creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Our carefully designed curriculum is based on the 7 areas of learning; Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Literacy, Maths, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design set out in the Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Key knowledge and skills are taught progressively through engaging topics, allowing children to enjoy memorable experiences and make cross-curricular links in their learning.
We deliver a broad and balanced Religious Education programme that is taught in discrete weekly lessons. Our curriculum is based on a variety of schemes, including: Understanding Christianity, RE Today and Curriculum Kernewek, providing a balance of Christianity and other world religions.
Children are taught to read and write through daily systematic phonics lessons, following the Read, Write, Inc, programme. Children are constantly assessed in their phonic ability to ensure they are always working at the right level of challenge.
Early maths skills and knowledge are taught daily, through practical, engaging and interactive activities. We follow a Maths Mastery programme developed by the National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics, supported by the White Rose Maths scheme.
Children’s attainment and progress is constantly monitored through ongoing observations and discussions and key moments in their learning are recorded in a portfolio on Class Dojo and shared immediately with parents/carers.
Children’s achievements are recognised and celebrated regularly in class and whole school Collective Worship, when they have been noticed being the light, through their behaviour, attitudes and learning.
Our children will be actively engaged in their learning and the enjoyment of this learning will be apparent in their daily provision. All children will experience a curriculum that provides exciting and enriching learning experiences and opportunities for them to learn through meaningful, first-hand experiences.
Children will show curiosity about the world around them, confidently taking risks and showing resilience.
Our children will live by our school vision and values, showing an understanding of their rights and responsibilities in a diverse, fast-changing world.
We know that by the end of Foundation Stage at Grampound with Creed C of E School, our children will have developed the essential knowledge and skills required to transition confidently into Key Stage One and succeed in their journey as lifelong learners.