Early Years Foundation
The Early Years at St Thomas’ Infant School
St Thomas’ Infant School offers a stimulating, inclusive, nurturing and enabling environment in both their Reception and Pre-school settings. All children are seen as highly capable, strong, confident and curious learners. They are valued and viewed as active participants in their own learning; encouraged to express their own ideas, opinions and make independent choices, with adults challenging and provoking ideas through high-quality interactions. Throughout the Early Years, we understand that children express themselves in multiple ways, all of which is facilitated in our settings through a dedicated Atélier, purposefully selected open-ended resources, multi-sensory spaces both indoors and out and highly skilled staff.
INTENT
Our Early Years curriculum is centred around the child and inspired by key elements of the Reggio Emilia approach, where children’s interests and fascinations are actively encouraged and developed; firmly believing in our vision of: ‘Their Interests, Their Journey’. We encourage families to be involved in their children’s learning journey; creating a strong community and a sense of belonging for the children. We support them in becoming life-long learners alongside the aims of the Early Years’ Foundation Stage statutory framework. Practitioners understand that the EYFS is essential in securing solid foundations that the children will continue to build on throughout their school learning journey.
They understand that children communicate their ideas and creativity in a multitude of ways, and actively support them in doing so, planning next steps accordingly to meet their needs and empowering them to become co-constructors in their own learning. This equips the children with the confidence and tools to enact the wider school’s vision of: ‘Let Your Light Shine’.
IMPLEMENTATION
We combine adult-led focused teaching with child-initiated activities to widen children’s experiences, awe and natural curiosity throughout our settings. Children benefit from quality first teaching, hands-on experiences and provocations which are set up in our engaging environments, including a dedicated Atélier and carefully chosen open-ended resources. Each day is organised so that children are provided with plenty of time to secure and extend their knowledge through carefully planned provocations, with an emphasis on Art and the Natural World. Provision is planned both inside and outside, allowing our environment to be ‘the third teacher’.
The environment is a fundamental aspect of our curriculum, and children are provided with endless opportunities to engage in a range of provocations, which provide hands-on exploration to practise, test, construct and deconstruct their own ideas and theories. The ‘big ideas’ covered in Early Years are broad, allowing us to follow and develop the children’s interests within these. Planning is focused around the seven areas of learning and through carefully planned provocations, build on children’s fascinations; developing their skills and understanding across both the prime and specific areas. Children are well equipped with prior knowledge and skills, ready for their transition from our pre-school setting into our Reception class and entering into Year 1.
IMPACT
We strive for our children to grow into lifelong, independent learners who approach the world with curiosity, confidence and joy. By the end of Reception, we aim for children to transition into Year One in a holistic way and developmentally appropriate way. Our practice places a strong emphasis on the Prime Areas, recognising that these foundational skills enable children to thrive across ALL the Specific Areas of learning. We are committed to nurturing, strong, active, confident and motivated learners who feel confident to take risks, explore ideas and express themselves in a creative way.
By the end of the Reception year, we aspire for all children to have made meaningful progress across the curriculum, working towards a Good Level of Development, but more importantly reaching their full potential as unique individuals. Our environment cultivates engagement, where children are deeply involved in their learning – inquisitive, curious and eager to discover more. Through close collaboration between key stages, transitions are smooth and thoughtfully supported. Children leave the EYFS with the skills, knowledge, resilience and determination they need to ‘let their light shine’.