Early years education is delivered in 'The Oaks' nursery provision (for 2,3 and 4 year olds) and three, mainstream reception classes (4 and 5 year olds). We follow the Early Years guidance and have designed a bespoke curriculum. The importance of ensuring the best start for our children is emphasised by our decision to use fully qualified, specialist early years teachers and nursery nurses to deliver the curriculum within our EYFS provision.
Curriculum drivers for EYFS
We believe that all children have the right to access a well designed and appropriate early years curriculum. Our bespoke offer is based upon the presenting needs of pupils who come into the provision. Children are therefore assessed to baseline their competencies across a range of subjects within the first few weeks of starting school. This is then used to help our staff to plan for future learning.
Curriculum Intent (what do we want our curriculum to achieve?)
We want our children to be curious learners, fascinated by the world and the people around them. In partnership with our families, our teaching strategies will enable the youngest children to develop skills, behaviours and attitudes to learning that will help them transition to main school with confidence. We believe that the development of language; speaking and listening is paramount and should underpin every moment in our setting. Our provision aims to developing social and emotional literacy to enable our children to regulate their behaviours and become independent learners .We want our children to have a happy and settled time in school right from the very start. By investing in the highest quality teaching and providing a nurturing environment parents can be confident that ‘The Oaks’ and our EYFS classes offer the best start!
Curriculum Implementation(how have we designed this?):
Analysis of our baseline data has shown that many of our pupils enter the setting with a limited receptive and expressive language, very little knowledge and understanding of the world and immature personal, social and emotional development. In addition a number of children have English as an additional language and some speak little or no English.
Opportunities to engage families with toddlers through regular toddler groups, family learning (with crèche facilities) and 2 year FEL provision are planned in order to build trusting relationships with our families at the earliest opportunity, assist with separation from carer , and smooth the early transition into school. The presenting needs of our pupils call for a curriculum rich in awe and wonder moments together with structured opportunities for children to develop their language and communication in purposeful contexts. Nurture based provision will enable staff and pupils to develop purposeful relationships and emotional maturity. Our children will become self-directed learners and so they will be encouraged to take a lead in developing their learning within the environments provided, alongside staff. In order for our children to develop their knowledge and understanding of the world, this year we intend to further maximise opportunities to work outside, engage with ‘forest schools’, venture out into our local environment, engage in visits and receive visitors.
Curriculum Impact:
We aim to see confident and capable young learners, well prepared to enter KS 1 from reception or main school(reception) from our nursery school classes. For this reason we manage effective transitions . As a result, children settle quickly in September, are able to listen and respond appropriately in a range of contexts, to each other and the teachers. Our overall impact is measured in the number (%) of children entering F2 at broadly age related expectations, with the characteristics of effective learning at 40-60moths and those who complete their EYFS with at least a good standard of development.
At High Hazels we are creating responsible, tolerant and increasingly skilled learners, ready for the next chapter in their educational future.
Click here for Complete Guide for Parents
Parents/carers or members of the public can view detailed information of our curriculum in the form of long and medium term curriculum plans, which may be found below.