‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and support to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and 5 have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high-quality learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.’

Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage- Published 31^st March 2021, Effective 1^st September 2021

The Early Years Foundation Stage applies to children from birth to the end of their Reception Year. At St. John’s Church of England Academy, we believe that early childhood is the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives, The children start our school in Reception, in the year following their fourth birthday. We greatly value the importance that the Early Years plays in laying secure foundations for future learning and development.

Our Reception provision follows the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, a copy of which can be found here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

The EYFS framework includes seven areas of learning and development, all of which are seen as important and interconnected:

The prime areas are;

· Communication and Language – Listening, Attention and Understanding, and Speaking

· Physical Development – Gross Motor Skills and Fine Motor Skills

 · Personal, Social and Emotional Development – Self-regulation, Managing Self, Building Relationships

The specific areas are;

· Literacy – Comprehension, Word Reading, Writing

· Mathematics – Number and Numerical Patterns

· Understanding the World – Past and Present, People, Culture and Communities and the Natural World

· Expressive Arts and Design – Creating with Materials and Being Imaginative and Expressive

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Reception also includes the characteristics of effective teaching and learning. The teachers plan activities within the Reception classrooms with these in mind. They highlight the importance of a child’s attitude to learning and their ability to play, explore and think critically about the world around them.

The three characteristics are:

· Playing and Exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’

· Active Learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements

· Creating and Thinking Critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

Our Outdoor Area

We are very excited about our outdoor area. It is a personalised and bespoke values-driven outdoor environment made with natural materials. The school values are threaded throughout the area, with important words and phrases built into our landscape, and there are multiple opportunities for children to be challenged through all aspects of learning.