Early Years Foundation Stage

Intent

 

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the period of education from birth to 5 years. In our Foundation stage we have a morning Nursery class and an Afternoon Nursery class and 4 Reception classes. 

At Hampton Infant School and Nursery, we wish to support children’s personal, social and emotional development so that they feel safe and secure and are ready to learn. The curriculum in Early Years is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils. It facilitates them to gain the skills, knowledge and understanding, as they start out on their educational journey, supporting them to progress from their individual starting points and preparing them for the next stage of their education.

We believe that the prime areas of learning are the basis for all future learning and therefore place a lot of emphasis on ensuring that all children feel happy, secure and settled into the school environment. During the first term, we begin the child’s first experience of Nursery or Reception by focusing the topic around them and their families, enabling them to engage in a subject they know the most about. We want all children to become confident, active and independent learners, enabling them to enter Key stage one with the skills that they need to continue their learning journey.

Through the seven areas of learning we use core texts that excite and engage children, building on their own interests and developing their experiences of the world around them. Storytelling and the development of language is a core part of our EYFS curriculum. High quality texts and helicopter stories help children believe they are storytellers. We participate in a weekly helicopter story session in Reception. In Nursery this is introduced to the children once they have settled. We recognise that all children come into our setting with varied experiences and all staff work hard to ensure that the learning opportunities provided widen their knowledge and understanding of the world, setting ambitious expectations for all children.

We follow The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (2021 updated version). This framework is a means of ensuring high standards of early education and care that will reassure parents that their child’s development is being fully supported. It underpins all future learning by supporting and fostering the children’s personal, social and emotional wellbeing. Children learn best when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met, and when they have positive relationships with the adults caring for them.

HISN Teaching & Learning Policy

Key stage 1

Through our curriculum we will provide opportunities for all children to excel – for every child to have their ‘moment to shine’. We recognise that all children will achieve different levels of academic excellence, and we celebrate all successes, no matter how big or small, to ensure each child feels recognised and valued. Our aim is to develop resilient learners who have transferable skills essential for life-long learning.

British Values at HISN

At HISN we value and reflect British values in all that we do.

British values are not taught as individual lessons but are embodied within the ethos and culture of our school and reflected within our school principles and our Bee rules which are there for the benefit of everyone within our school community.

The Department for Education states that all schools should promote fundamental British values. The definition of these British values is taken from The Home Office’s Prevent Strategy and is defined as :

Democracy

Respect for democracy and support or participation in the democratic process

The Rule of Law

Respect for the basis on which the law is made and applies in England

Individual Liberty

Support for equality of opportunity for all

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

Respect for and tolerance of different faiths and religions and other beliefs.