St Robert's Catholic Primary School

Reception

EYFS Rationale

Early childhood is the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives. St Robert’s Catholic Primary School greatly values the importance that the EYFS plays in laying secure foundations for future learning and development.

“Inside every child there is a rainbow waiting to shine.”

It is important to view the EYFS as preparation for life and not simply preparation for the next stage of education.

”What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever.”

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to children from birth to the end of the reception year. At St Robert’s Catholic Primary School children join us at the beginning of the school year in which they are five.

‘Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances.’
EYFS Statutory Framework, 2021

At St Robert's Catholic Primary School, we recognise the importance of an inclusive, high quality education for all children. The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS Framework) sets the statutory standards for the development, learning and care of children from birth to age five.

The EYFS is shaped by four overarching holistic principles:

A Unique Child

We will provide care and support in a safe environment so that every child’s full potential is reached. We will value and celebrate the differences in individuals.

Positive Relationships

We will ensure that the children feel secure with adults, in order for them to develop independence and self-confidence. Plus, where each child feels valued, respected and heard.

Enabling Environments

We have a well thought out, planned and resourced (indoor and outdoor) curriculum classroom on offer, where purposeful play and expectations encourage each child to strive to achieve their best.

Learning and Development

All children develop at different rates and learn in different ways. The EYFS provides children with a broad range of learning opportunities; with the aim to embed firm foundations in the knowledge and skills needed for good future progress.

We recognise that children develop in individual ways, learn at varying rates and that the role of the adult is vital to filling the gaps and moving learning concepts on. By the adult offering their expertise through engagement, modelling and language it then provides children with quality first teaching and learning.

The Effective Characteristics support the EYFS principles:

Playing and Exploring
Active Learning
Creating and Thinking Critically

At St Robert’s we aim to develop children’s cultural capital and education through interactions, quality texts and/or experiences - so that they can engage with society and understand the importance of being a good UK and global citizen.

Together we create a learning buzz, positive mindset, classroom culture for all to thrive and achieve.

Communication, language and reading is of utmost priority within our EYFS unit.

Knowledge in EYFS

There are 7 areas of learning in the EYFS and these are split into the 17 Early Learning Goals that the children will progress towards in their early education and then be assessed against at the end of the Reception year. Knowledge in the EYFS refers to the understanding and application of the prime areas (3) and specific areas (4) of learning. All areas of learning are planned out and taught in a systematic way, to build knowledge through small steps, at the appropriate time in the year. The prime areas provide the foundations for children’s learning and
development and these are strengthened through the specific areas of learning.

In each area there are Early Learning Goals (ELG's) that define the expectations for most children to reach by the end of the EYFS.

Each area of learning and development will be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led, adult-initiated and child-initiated activity.

It is our goal that all children leave the Foundation Stage with increased confidence and independence, an inquisitive mind, a good understanding of core skills, spoken language to communicate, knowledge of the world, some good friendships, memories, a sense of achievement and of where they need to go next.

We lay the foundations for their next stage of learning in year one and beyond.

EYFS Policy -Intent, Implementation, Impact

For a more detailed document outlining our philosophy and policy for Early Years at St Robert's please see below.

EYFS Policy

EYFS Literacy Long term Plan and Progression

EYFS Literacy Long Term Progression Plan

EYFS Vocabulary Development

EYFS Vocabulary Development Long Term Plan

Reception Long Term Plan

Please see below for the Reception Curriculum Overview.

EYFS Curriculum Overview

Autumn Essential Knowledge