RECEPTION

'In the early years, children enjoy exploring the well-designed learning activities. In lessons, pupils work hard to reach the school’s high expectations. Pupils show determination and do not give up easily when facing tricky areas of learning. Overall, pupils achieve the curriculum goals.'

OFSTED 2024

Vision

Excellence achieved through care, creativity and challenge.

Intent

Our early years curriculum is ambitious and designed to give all pupils, the knowledge, skills and cultural capital they need to succeed in life. The early year’s curriculum and its delivery are designed to support pupils to remember long term, the content they have been taught and to integrate new knowledge into larger ideas, so that they can apply their knowledge and skills with increasing fluency and independence.

Implementation

The early years foundation stage teaches weekly themes covering a range of concepts. We initially focus on the Prime areas and when the pupils are confident, we develop the Specific areas of learning. We provide rich opportunities for pupils to gain a wider understanding and an appreciation of the best of ideas, concepts and human achievements.

We explore a wide range of relatable themes on a weekly rotation, which expose the pupils to many meaningful learning opportunities. The curriculum is coherently planned and builds on pupil’s prior knowledge as well as their interests. The curriculum is taught through a variety of child-initiated learning opportunities as well as adult-led activities. Knowledge Organisers outline key learning, skills and concepts which will be taught throughout each theme. They also highlight key texts and vocabulary which children will be exposed to. The timetable is carefully structured to ensure that all pupils have directed teaching time every day; this is built up from nursery in to reception and leading into KS1. The curriculum is planned for the inside and outside environments and equal importance is given to learning in both areas. Real life experiences provide hooks for pupils to link their knowledge. Interleaved learning forms a key part of our curriculum, with opportunities for the children to revisit key concepts build upon prior knowledge.

Teachers ensure that their own use of language models’ best practice for pupils to develop their language and vocabulary well, as well as providing a language rich environment. Key vocabulary for each theme is planned in to all learning areas and is progressive from Nursery toto reception. The teaching of reading is in line with the whole school approach to ensure consistency across all years. We ensure a rigorous, interleaved and sequential approach to the reading curriculum which develops pupils’ fluency, confidence and enjoyment in reading Pupils are able to apply mathematical knowledge, concepts and procedures appropriately for their age with fluency and reasoning being the key elements in our mathematics curriculum.

Impact

Pupils’ starting points are identified through baseline assessments, whether those are teacher judgements in nursery or the RBA (statutory Reception Baseline Assessment) at the beginning of reception. Outcomes from these baseline assessments are then used to inform planning and ensure the curriculum closely matches pupils’ needs.

Ongoing observations and termly assessments help to inform future planning and teaching. A well-planned assessment calendar ensures leaders understand the limitations of assessment and do not use it in a way that creates unnecessary burdens on staff or pupils.

Enhancements

Where appropriate we invite visitors in to our early years classes to enhance our curriculum and offer real life opportunities for our pupils. Opportunities include a visit from a travelling farm, police and fire service visits and talks from dentists and nurses.

Key Documents:

To see links to our Key Stage One and Two curriculum, click here.

Each term we cover a wide range of themes which help enhance pupil's knowledge and understanding through a variety of meaningful learning opportunities in both structured and independent play based sessions.

Click on the terms below to view our weekly theme reviews:

Look what we've been up to!

'In the early years, children share and take turns well. During class discussions, pupils listen attentively. In the lunch hall, pupils eat politely and tidy up after themselves. They have fun together during playtime.'

OFSTED 2024