Bolshaw Primary SchoolEarly Years
Foundation Stage at Bolshaw Primary School
In our Reception class children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). This is the national framework for children aged from birth to 5.
At Bolshaw Primary school we recognise the importance of the early years and we work hard to ensure that each child has a successful induction to the school. We do not have nursery provision here at Bolshaw so children come to us from as many as seventeen different nursery / pre school settings. Therefore, our induction and transition programme is critical for us to ensure our children are familiar, prepared, happy and excited about joining us for their first year at school in the September.
Over the last five years we have gathered information from our new Reception parents /carers and through our parents forum to help us develop our transition programme for our new Reception children joining school and how best we can support our parents and carers. We pride ourselves with the detailed and in depth programme we now run. We hold an Open afternoon when families and children can come and look round school and get a real flavour and insight into our school ethos, culture and provision.
Parents, carers and children will be given a guided tour around school by our Headteacher, Chair of Governors, Learning Mentor, Head Boy and Head Girl. Individual appointments can also be made with the Headteacher.
Before the children start school our EYFS staff and Learning Mentor visit the children either at home or at their nursery / pre school to meet them in their own environment. We work very closely with the pre-schools and nursery providers to support the smooth transition; ensuring information and assessments are passed onto us. Every parent/career will receive an induction pack with lots of information about starting school. Our new Reception children will also be assigned a Year 6 buddy who will personally write to them in the summer term before they start school; introducing themselves and welcoming them to our school.
New Reception children are invited to two induction afternoons where they will meet their class teacher, our EYFS support staff, our Learning Mentor and their Year 6 buddy. An induction information meeting is held during the summer for new parents and carers. Our Headteacher, Deputy Headteacher, Chair of Governors, EYFS staff, Learning Mentor, SENCO, Head Boy and Girl, Deputy Head Boy and Girl, a group of Year 5 children, Monkhouses (school uniform) our School Nurse, School Chef and PTA representatives will all be there to talk to you about our school.
In the first few weeks of September we have a carefully planned staggered intake to enable the children to settle into school. We also hold 1:1 meetings for parents and carers with our Leanring Mentor in the first two weeks. This is so we can establish a strong partnership between home and school straight away and it gives us the opportunity to have quality time discussing your child with you in the first few weeks of their school life with us.
Our Foundation Stage prepares children for their school life as well as preparing them for future learning and success in Key Stage 1 and beyond. We believe children in Reception learn through purposeful play, by exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. ‘Learning Challenges’ are used as a basis for exploration, thinking, consolidation of learning and reflection. We plan and provide an active, engaging and exciting range of experiences which supports children’s development and their individual learning needs.
Our children learn skills, acquire new knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development. Most children develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
These prime areas are essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design.
These 7 areas underpin your child’s learning and activities. There are a set of Early Learning Goals that are the expected level that children should reach by the end of the EYFS at age 5. The adults at our school supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. Our curriculum is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child’s needs and interests and so they can make the best progress they can from their individual starting points.
Every child is assessed at the beginning of school in order to identify their individual starting points. Ongoing daily / weekly assessments are made throughout the EYFS in order to plan each child’s next step in their learning. As part of the EYFS statutory framework all children are formally assessed at the end of the summer term through the EYFS Profile.
Below are some key documents that we recommend you to read, especially if you have a child starting our Reception class and want to find out more about how you can help support your child.
Early Years Foundation Stage Framework
As a school we keep up to date with relevant reserach and reports to help plan our school improvement priorties.
Please find below:
Education Recovery in the Early Years
Websites for parents