Our entire curriculum (which you can find here) is shaped, using the linked documents listed here:

• The Early Years Statutory Framework
• Birth to 5 Matters (non-statutory)
• The Characteristics of Effective Learning

Early Years:

At Front Street Primary School we strive to provide the best for every child as a unique individual as we know from research and knowledge; opportunities and experience enable children to build solid foundations for future learning. We believe in providing a high quality, secure foundation for the future learning and development of our children.

Within our Early Years we provide an inclusive approach to education and quickly identify special educational needs and disabilities to ensure children promptly receive the appropriate support they need to help them progress well in their learning and achieve their best. We acknowledge and respond to the ever-changing needs within the setting and develop the continuous provision, classroom expectations, curriculum, and daily routine accordingly.

We believe all children should have a high level of self-worth and pride, giving them the confidence to believe that their own opinions are important and valued in our school. In our early years, we promote independence and enable children to play, explore, be active in their own learning, create and think critically.

We understand how important it is that children feel happy and safe in our early year’s environment.

Our school ethos is embedded within the day-to-day life of our EYFS. Our school values shape how we behave, what we say to each other and how we build relationships and respect as we learn as we pride ourselves with our vision ‘believe, achieve, together we succeed’

Autumn 1	Autumn 2	Spring 1	Spring 2	Summer 1	Summer 2
Super ME	Special Days	Wherever our imagination takes us…	Fairy tales	Life cycle	Look at ME now…

In Reception our curriculum is based around the following topics, which are broad and flexible to follow the developmental stages of our children, their needs and interests;

What will my child do in Reception? 

At Front Street Community Primary School, the focus for learning within the Early Years is based on each child as an individual, providing them with a wide variety of activities based on the seven areas of learning. The activities are carefully planned through a variety of adult led activities and child-led play opportunities, which occur both indoors and outdoors. These activities are well-structured following the interests and needs of the children. The Reception environment is made up of the seven areas of learning in order to provide opportunities to achieve the Early Years Framework and the Early Years Learning Goals.

• Personal Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Within our Reception unit the children will be provided with opportunities and experiences to develop their own relationships, self-confidence and self-awareness. Our children will be encouraged to develop their ability to share and manage their own feelings and behaviour following Reception rules and routines. We want to encourage our children to develop their independence with their own hygiene procedures, decision making as well as selecting and using resources.  We also encourage our children to develop their understanding by expressing their own views and needs as well as listening to the views and needs of others. We will encourage our children to take turns in small groups, activities and conversations. The use of circle time and role play opportunities will be a focus to extend our children’s understanding and development.

Communication and Language

We ensure that consistent, daily opportunities are available for our children to encounter a range of experiences in order to develop their speaking, listening and attention skills. This will allow our children to extend their understanding of themselves and their peers as well as to begin to communicate with others. Activities such as circle time, listening to stories and following instructions will enhance their listening and concentration skills. Your child will then progress towards expressing their own needs, talking about ‘here’ and ‘now’ whilst

re-enacting roles and experiences from their own lives. Your child will extend their speaking, listening and attention skills by communicating with ‘how’ ‘what’ and ‘why’ questions between adults and peers. Communication and Language is modelled by the adults consistently within Reception therefore your child will develop confidence with their own communication and language skills.

Physical Development

Within this area of learning children experience opportunities of moving and handling. We also encourage children to develop their independence towards health and self-care skills through the use of practical activities. Physical development is encouraged through the use of active learning, supporting their co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Physical development is extended through their gross and fine motor skills. Children will develop their use of scissors, threading beads onto a string, running, kicking a large ball, using pedal bikes as well as climbing and completing jigsaw puzzles.  Your child will be encouraged to identify the effect exercise has on their body and given the importance of healthy choices in relation to food. Your child will also take part in weekly P.E lessons in the main school hall, please see the P.E kit list above for what your child needs.

Literacy

Within this area of learning we focus on developing your child’s awareness and skills of reading and writing. The children will have numerous opportunities to mark make and develop their use of fine motor skills and their pincer grip throughout all areas of their play. The use of the early stages of emergent writing will progress towards your child’s understanding of writing. Your child will begin to understand that writing has a purpose, which will encourage them towards their writing journey. Your child will be exposed to a rich reading environment where they are able to look at stories and illustrations independently or with peers. They will also have the opportunity of listening to a variety of new and familiar stories which will be read to them on a daily basis.

Once your child has settled into Reception, they will take part in a daily ‘Read Write Inc’ session which is a lively, exciting phonics programme. This teaches children their letter sounds and will support them towards their reading and writing journey in their life.

Mathematics

This area of learning encourages our children to develop their understanding of mathematics through the use of problem solving and reasoning. We encourage our children to learn, explore, talk about and develop their understanding through practical opportunities to develop their confidence within mathematics. We enjoy activities in small groups such as counting, singing counting rhymes, comparing quantities and sorting activities. We use mathematical language within our play experiences, extending your child’s knowledge and understanding through the use of numbers, shape, space and measures. We look at real-life mathematics such as shape and money too. We encourage children to take part in mathematical challenges and problem solving with their peers.

Understanding of the World

We will support our children’s knowledge, skills and understanding to help them make sense of people and communities, the world and technology within their learning. This area of learning emphasises the importance for children to ask questions, explore and investigate the world around them. We ensure that your child’s learning is supported by a variety of opportunities and equipment such as iPads, interactive whiteboards, story phones and programmable toys. We allow the use of a wide range of tools, ensuring they are used safely and for the correct purpose. Children also have the opportunity to encounter and investigate people, communities and living creatures. We believe the use of sharing real-life situations and experience will develop your child’s learning and understanding, whilst making your child’s learning as practical, valuable and relevant as possible. This can be done through the use of your child’s Tapestry account, linking evidence from home to school.

Expressive Arts and Design

At Front Street Community Primary School, creativity is part of our daily routine. We will support your child’s exploration within their play, allowing them to explore media and materials whilst extending their thoughts, ideas, imagination and creativity. Opportunities will be provided to ensure creativity is consistent and extended, such as music and movement activities, imaginative role play and a variety of art and design technology tasks.

Outdoor Environment

The outdoor environment will be used within the daily routine and aims to enhance learning opportunities within Reception. Your child will be able to access resources outdoors to enhance their development of the seven areas of learning. The outdoor environment is crucial towards developing each child’s independence, physical development as well as exploration and investigation opportunities. We share our large, developing outdoor area with our Nursery.