Early Years

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, sets out the standards for development, learning and care of children from birth to five. 

Children at Willow Brook join our school the term after their third birthday and are welcomed into an enriched and engaging environment. The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is delivered by ‘learning through play’ and our highly experienced staff offer the children an enabling and well-resourced environment. Children within the Early Years enjoy learning both inside and outside in all weather conditions.

At the beginning of the summer term our Nursery teacher prepares our children for Reception through the use of our phonics scheme Read, Write, Inc(https://www.ruthmiskin.com/programmes/phonics/).  Children at Willow Brook Nursery are prepared for a smooth transition to Reception Class and this is greatly helped by the close working relationships within our Early Years Team. Children in our Reception Class continue to develop skills in all seven areas of the curriculum and enjoy taking part in daily Phonics sessions enabling their progression towards achieving the Early Learning Goals in the summer term.

The EYFS sets out the following seven areas of learning to be used for planning learning and development opportunities; all areas are important and inter-connected. They fall into two groups; The Prime and the Specific areas for learning.

The Prime Areas

These are recognised as essential areas for your child’s healthy development. They form an essential foundation for children’s future learning ability and are a key focus for Early Years learning.

• Communication and language,
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development.

The Specific Areas

As children consolidate skills in the Prime areas, they are able to develop knowledge and skills in these four specific areas.

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design.

• Communication and Language Development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
• Physical Development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.
• Literacy Development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
• Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.
• Understanding the World involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
• Expressive Arts and Design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of different ways.