The Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage covers children’s development from birth to the end of their first year in school and is taught via the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. 

Our whole school curriculum vision 'Explore, Experience, Create' also underpins our approach to the curriculum in the Early Years and is implemented via elements of the 'Curiosity Approach' of learning. This approach supports our children to follow their own interests and become 'thinkers and doers', through the use of natural, real-life, easily-accessible items which encourage children's natural curiosity, exploration and creativity. This approach provides the foundation for our wider curriculum beyond EYFS, by putting the child at the centre of their own learning and development. 

Our brand-new, purpose-built Nursery building, offers a warm and welcoming environment for your child. There is a wide range of resources; well-planned activities and scope for adventurous and imaginative play both indoors and outdoors.

'A Curious Approach'

The approach is based on the knowledge that we are all born with the innate skill of curiosity, and that this strong desire is present in babies from birth. It is therefore our job as early childhood educators to inspire and nurture an inquisitive mind in every child.  This can be achieved through the environment we create, the questions we ask, being curious, having fun and the working in partnership with families to provide the best learning opportunities for every child. 

‘A Curious Approach’ blends many aspects of early education and we aim to provide a calming and tranquil play space and an environment with neutral tones, soft furnishings and comfy spaces for children to feel safe and relaxed. By providing a safe haven and an extension of home, children feel more at ease and content. These important foundations for learning and self-actualisation are laid down, in preparation for deep learning, engagement with friends and enjoyment. As a result, this will enable our children to flourish.

There is no one way (definitive approach) to early education and as part of our curriculum changes, we have begun to swap our brightly coloured plastic toys and introduce authentic items and real resources, like tea sets, tea pots, large cupboard tubes, boxes, wheels and tyres. Our aim is to teach the children how to handle items with care, and how to do this correctly in order to develop responsibility for the equipment within their own environment. By using and manipulating large items like these, this will help to develop their fine motor skills; help the children to show respect and embed cultural diversity by allowing children to play, engage and handle a wide and varied of multisensory resources that they would experience at home and in the wider community.   

We live in an age where children’s free time can become increasingly dominated by computers, TV’s, computer games and i-Pads and where children may have less opportunity to get outside and play freely. We believe our approach to learning in our Nursery will allow our children to explore, be inquisitive; to ‘tinker’ and most importantly, to have fun and seek adventure in the great outdoors alongside our high motivated and passionate staff team!