‘Learning today, to make a difference tomorrow’
Welcome to Reception and the Early Years Foundation Stage, more commonly referred to as EYFS. Your child’s first year at school is an incredibly important time in both of your lives. At Hatchlands, we make every effort to ensure that your child’s experience in the Early Years is happy, active, fun and exciting whilst supporting their development and learning needs.
Our aim is to create a learning environment and build relationships which support, enhance and stimulate a child’s curiosity, confidence and individual competency to flourish regardless of backgrounds, circumstances or needs. We work in partnership with parents and carers to encourage resilient, independent, enthusiastic learners who thrive and reach their full potential from their various starting points.
The Early Years Framework
The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development. At Hatchlands your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating understanding through the 7 areas of learning and development.
Children develop the 3 prime areas first which are most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in the 4 specific areas.
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The team at Hatchlands will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs.
At our school children learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.
Area of Learning and Development | Aspect |
Prime Areas | |
Personal, Social and Emotional Development | Self regulation |
Managing Self | |
Building relationships | |
Physical Development | Gross motor skills |
Fine motor skills | |
Communication and Language | Listening, attention and understanding |
Speaking | |
Specific Areas | |
Literacy | Comprehension |
Word Reading | |
Writing | |
Mathematics | Number |
Numerical Patterns | |
Understanding of the World | Past and Present |
People, culture and communities | |
Natural world | |
Expressive Arts and Design | Creating with materials |
Being imaginative and expressive | |
Environment
Our accessible environment allows the children to free flow inside and outside in order to make links between and access all seven areas of learning independently. Our well planned provision enables the children to develop key skills, whilst taking risks, in order to ensure the children can be successfully challenged and engaged.
Tapestry
In the Early Years we use Tapestry, an online learning journal, to capture observations of children. We work in partnership with parents to build a holistic view of each child's development.
Reading
Reading to young children is crucial. They build vocabulary and develop listening and attention skills. Reading improves children's imagination and understanding of concepts and topics. In school, reading is a priority, and we advocate that at home parents read to their child every day.
At Hatchlands, we want all children to begin their journey to read with confidence, enjoyment and a sense of achievement. We use Read, Write, Inc. to teach phonics systematically, which allows practitioners to carefully match books and lessons to each child’s needs.
Curriculum
Children enjoy a balanced curriculum through focused teaching and play. They have access to rich learning environments, both inside and outside. Resources and materials are accessible throughout the day for children to self-select during ‘free flow learning’. Children thereby develop independence and have the opportunity to practise and apply their knowledge and understanding. Adults observe and extend play, through sensitive interactions. We follow children’s interests and create motivating continuous and enhanced provision.
Children benefit from adult-led sessions covering areas such as phonics, mathematics and physical education (PE). These inputs are used to introduce and consolidate skills, concepts and ideas.