Leadership and intent of the EYFS at West Rainton
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- Mrs Julia Struthers
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- Miss Charlton – Teacher
Our youngest pupils are extremely lucky to have two passionate, reflective leaders in the early years at West Rainton Primary School.
Please see full pen profile for subject leaders here:
EYFS pen profile – J Struthers
The content of our brand new EYFS curriculum has been mapped out carefully, with an ethos of ever-evolving change at the heart of the curriculum. The changes for September 2021 have already been embedded into our practice. Our curriculum is our pride and joy! It seeks to provide:
- quality and consistency in our setting, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind.
- a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly.
- partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers
- equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported
How the EYFS is embraced at West Rainton
At West Rainton Primary School, we believe that every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured when supported appropriately. We aim for our children to learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships. Also, we know that children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers. In addition to this, we have a good understanding of the fact that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. Through everything that we do, we fully embrace the inclusive practice that is already highly commended at WRPS, through accolades such as being an inclusive ‘Centre of Excellence’ school. Our children with additional needs are planned for very carefully, and we ensure that these children are able to access an appropriate curriculum in the early years for them. This is in partnership with our school SENDCo, Mrs Firth, who has lots of experience of supporting children in the early years.
The children in our early years classrooms experience a balance of child initiated and adult led tasks, adapted to meet the needs and wants of our very youngest pupils.
We are absolutely thrilled to have 2 year old provision, which is a fantastic experience for our pupils, as well as 3-4 year old provision, including 30 hours for pupils who qualify.
How our EYFS offer supports and promotes our overarching curriculum key drivers:
Aiming high
We want our pupils to be inspired by our provision, and to ignite strong aspirations and high expectations of themselves and their future. Promotion of strong attendance is fundamental in this. Through the use of visits, visitors and enriching experiences, we will build knowledge and understanding of career possibilities as well as a hunger to embrace new and exciting opportunities. We will ensure we plan regular opportunities for children to develop self-belief and to see the benefits of taking risks and overcoming challenge. Our pupils will be supported to light up future pathways to fulfilling lives of employment choices, prosperity and future happiness.
In Early Years we have a high expectation of all children and have created a challenging, enriching and varied curriculum. We have written our own curriculum based on our children’s needs and interests. We have a secure and welcoming environment where children are active and inquisitive learners, are confident to ask questions and take risks.
Skills for learning and life
We want pupils to leave our school with a bank of knowledge and a skillset specific to each individual subject, whilst also making transferable connections across other areas of learning and life. Fundamental to this, is a curriculum rich in core skills of language, vocabulary, communication, literacy and numeracy. Our pupils will be taught to be inquisitive, follow a line of enquiry to reach answers, and to recall and present their learning in a vibrant range of ways. Opportunities to develop resilience, organisation, leadership, teamwork, adaptability, patience and initiative are all interwoven into our subjects and wider school life in order for our children to adjust to new learning situations.
In Early Years we promote independence and develop strong pathways for communication and language development through our Communication Friendly settings status. We work cooperatively to build strong relationships with children and their families.
Growing healthily
Equally as important to us is the development of the whole child. Feeling safe, happy and valued is a fundamental right of all pupils. Our inclusive-rich ethos provides the backdrop to our personal development and wellbeing provision which is skilfully interwoven into all that we do. All pupils are supported to develop a strong understanding of the importance of good physical and mental health, whilst also learning a whole range of factors and influences that can have a negative impact on us. Making, nurturing and maintaining healthy relationships, both on and offline, equips children with the strength and security to recognise what they want and need in life. We believe a strong understanding of e-safety forms a crucial part of being a healthy, well-rounded 21st century global citizen.
In Early Years our children’s health and well-being is paramount. Our children are encouraged to talk about and express their feeling in a safe environment. They are given a wide range of experiences to develop a healthy body and mind. We model positive attitudes and relationships.
Knowledge of the world
When our pupils leave us at the end of Y6, we want them to feel so proud of themselves as people that they have the personal strength and self-confidence to find their place as positive global citizens. Through our carefully-planned provision, our pupils will experience a diverse and inclusive-rich experience that allows them to bank cultural capital as well as developing a secure understanding of the importance of equality. As well as a secure knowledge of British values, our pupils will have their minds and horizons broadened through diverse social, moral, spiritual and cultural experiences. Pupils will be regularly encouraged to revisit and extend their world-view, fostering tolerance, sensitivity and empathy to interact positively with others.
Our Early Years curriculum promotes an understanding of cultural differences, celebrations and traditions. We celebrate differences and promote each individual child. We carefully plan throughout the year a range of trips, visitors and parent sessions to enrich the children’s wider experiences.
The impact of the EYFS at West Rainton
At West Rainton, we believe that we provide wholesome, exciting experiences and resources for pupils, in both our indoor and outdoor classrooms. Through this provision, we are giving our wonderful pupils the tools and experiences that they need to develop into keen learners.
The skills learnt within the EYFS are a vital part of future life, and are the fundamentals for the National Curriculum. It should never be underestimated how much difference the early years makes to a school as it is vital that young children explore and find out about the world around them for themselves before the more formal structure of the National Curriculum.
Please see EYFS policies here:
