In the Foundation Stage at Layton Primary School, we believe that:

• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning to be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time.
• Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers
• Children develop and learn at different rates.

In Foundation Stage, we provide a stimulating, supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels confident, safe, and eager to learn. We aim to inspire children to explore, create, and develop through play, nurturing their curiosity and natural desire to understand the world around them. We strive to equip all of our children with the confidence to have big ambitions and high expectations of themselves as they strive for excellence.

We pride ourselves on ensuring the best possible start for all of our children as we know a child's development at this crucial stage has a fundamental impact on their happiness, school journey and shapes the young person they will become. We believe that all children deserve the opportunity to thrive across the 7 areas of learning, which form the foundation of their early education. Our approach is rooted in high expectations, enabling each child to reach their full potential and become independent, resilient, and reflective learners.

Learning is supported through rich, concrete, first-hand experiences and opportunities; building children's prior knowledge so that they can make sense of the world around them and create connections between key skills and concepts.

Our staff team understands that their role as 'the adult' is to encourage children to communicate confidently, collaborate and respect others through positive and caring relationships. All our Foundations Stage practitioners develop secure and trusting relationships with the children in their care by engaging with them whilst in the provision and through guided learning opportunities. Staff understand when to move learning forward whilst children are engaged in play and when to stop and observe.

 Through careful observation and intervention, staff can capture teachable moments to make a difference to the children's progress and learning. Children are encouraged to apply problem solving and independent skills within purposeful events and everyday routines such as, getting themselves dressed, writing their name during registration, applying mathematical skills when serving themselves for snack and tidying up the classroom.

Parents are encouraged to be involved in their child's learning throughout the Foundation Stage so that partnerships between home and school ensure children's successes and achievements can be celebrated and supported. This partnership is fostered in a range of ways such as home visits, parent's evenings, interaction via Class Dojo and half-termly Stay and Play sessions.

Staff use their knowledge of the skills and strengths of each child in their care to assess and review learning thus ensuring children continue to progress through the curriculum, leaving no child behind.

Children who are not working within the expectations are quickly identified and interventions are put into place to support them. This may mean signposting to our resident speech and language support, revisiting key concepts using a different approach, additional adult support or involving parents.

At the end of Reception children are assessed against the ELGs (Early Learning Goals) and children are supported along their learning journey using the new 2023, DFE Development Matter guidance.

EYFS Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum is planned with high expectations and a clear understanding that children learn best through an engaging, purposeful learning environment.

Here is the long term overview of the learning in EYFS 2024 to 25 which is based around the daily experiences and interests of our children. 

Staff understand that children's learning is not linear and therefore the curriculum can be adapted to their strengths and needs. Our Foundation Stage curriculum is focused upon particular themes across the academic year and is flexible to the needs and interests of the children. Each theme is supported by carefully selected core texts, resources and learning opportunities which make links to all areas of the EYFS curriculum and its educational programmes. The skills, vocabulary and knowledge developed within each theme provide the foundational knowledge for future learning opportunities as children progress into Year 1 and access further curriculum subjects.

Please refer to individual curriculum subjects to see how the EYFS curriculum progresses through KS1 and KS2.

Please see this half term's and next half term's overview which outlines the learning journey in EYFS. These overviews will be updated throughout the year to ensure you have a detailed outline of the learning experiences your child will have.