EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) The EYFS is a vitally important stage of children’s early development, as it is during these years that children begin to develop the learning attitudes, skills, social integration and independence on which the rest of their education is built.
Our Foundation Stage is made up of a morning and an afternoon Nursery as well as two Reception classes (Oak class and Walnut class) aged 3 – 5 years, and is known collectively as ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage’ (EYFS). |
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Meet the Early Years Team Nursery: Mrs Foster (Nursery Manager) , Mrs Saunders, Mrs Osman Reception: Mrs Harrex (Oak Class Teacher and EYFS Manager), Mrs Penfold (Walnut Class Teacher), Mrs Osborne, Mrs Augustt |
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Our Learning Environment Our aim is to provide a safe, fun, active and challenging learning environment for all the children who attend Gray’s Farm Primary Academy. We want to promote a purposeful play environment, where children reach their full potential in all areas of learning. We highly value the positive impact of learning outdoors and the benefits this brings to the health and wellbeing of our children, as well as encouraging them to be more active. |
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Areas of Learning In the Foundation Stage children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS). This curriculum is based upon four themes and principles. The Unique Child - We understand that every child is an individual child who is capable in their own right. The holistic child has a variety of needs that need meeting over their time in the Foundation Stage. Positive Relationships - Social interaction is key to children’s development. Children become strong, independent learners; as well as scaffolding their learning through positive social interaction. Enabling Environments - Providing a safe, secure and stimulating base for your children is key to their development. The framework allows for experiences that respond to the child’s individual needs/interests; as well as developing a strong partnership between practitioners, parents and carers. Learning and Development - Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in Early Years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is divided into two main areas: The Prime Areas of Learning and The Specific Areas of learning. Each area is divided into subcategories. The Prime Areas of learning are vitally important as these provide the basic systems and foundations which are essential to support learning in all the other areas.
The Specific Areas of Learning:
The Early Years is where the excitement begins! Reception children learn together in an environment which is developed around the children’s interests. We pride ourselves on being an exciting and engaging place to be, encouraging our children to be independent learners through a range of practical activities. We follow a curriculum which allows us to be creative with our lessons and let the children lead their own learning. As our Foundation Stage children enter the classroom they learn primarily through a variety of play and real-life experiences. Our teaching is delivered through carefully planned tasks and independent activities. The children access their environment freely, however they understand they must complete certain activities throughout the day, which will scaffold and extend their learning. Their development is tracked through observations and child-initiated interaction. This information is then transferred into their learning journeys. We use these to record individual interests, progress and plan the next steps of your child's learning. |
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Our Values |
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Gray’s Farm Early Years Curriculum Reception Phonics and Early Reading Read Write INC At Gray’s Farm we aim for all our children to become fluent, confident readers who are passionate about reading. Early Reading At Gray’s Farm we love reading and so do our pupils. We are passionate about instilling a love of reading within our children and we work tirelessly to ensure that reading is a subject they love. Reading takes place continuously throughout the school day, and as well as being taught as an individual subject, you will also see it embedded across all aspects of the curriculum. We try to ensure that our children are heard to read as often as possible. However it is through daily practice at home that children really progress. We will send home a sound blending book to begin with, followed by a reading book and reading diary and ask that you write in your child’s diary whenever you read with them. Reception Maths Overview Our Mathematics curriculum is a journey that begins with investigating the construction of numbers to 5. To many parents this may seem odd as a percentage of children will start in Reception being able to recognise numbers to 10 and count by rote to numbers in the teens and further but we actually look in depth at how each number can be made using other numbers, what it looks like both in numeral and with concrete objects and we learn the number bonds that make each number to 5. Once the children are secure with this, we move on to numbers to 10 in exactly the same way. Once the children have developed their knowledge of number to 10, they move on to applying it through looking at addition and subtraction, finding one more and one less than a given number, odd and even numbers, and finding double and half of a number. The children also have many opportunities to share what they know or can see in an image or representation of a number. This is when the children are able to apply what they know and describe it to another person. It has been proven that children who are secure in this number knowledge and able to explain what they know about a number or a mathematical process when moving into Year 1 find the transition much easier and have no gaps in their learning as they move up through the school because the number knowledge gained in Reception provides the building blocks for the National Curriculum covered in years 1 to 6. |
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EYFS Transition Information Please click here to read a copy of the letter that was emailed to all new Reception parents. You will be given a pack of information at the Reception Parent Welcome meeting. Transition Dates - Starting Reception 2024/25
Home visits will be taking place between Thursday 29th August 2024 and Tuesday 3rd September 2024. There will be an oppurtunity when you come in to visit to book a slot.
Milk and Snacks Stay and Play arranged by outside agencies
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Friends of Gray’s Farm Friend’s of Gray’s Farm is the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and Gray’s Farm Primary Academy. We organise fun activities and events for the children (and adults) and fundraise at the same time. If you would like to be involved in any of the Friends of Gray’s Farm activities please email the following address; fogf@graysfarm-tkat.org |