Early Years and Key Stage 1

The curriculum is designed to re-engage children at an early age in the enjoyment and fun which learning can offer them. They will engage in a language enriched environment which is designed using the 6 Principles of Nurture groups as its foundation:

• Children’s learning is understood developmentally
• The classroom offers a safe base
• Nurture is important for the development of well-being and self-esteem
• Language is understood as a vital means of communication
• All Behaviour is communication
• The importance of transition in children’s lives

There is a personalised offer across the curriculum and so it is made relevant to the needs of the children, remaining flexible and adaptable to the context, background and needs of the child. The curriculum is inclusive and accessible to every child.

The curriculum is creative and has a culture of experiential, interactive, physically engaging and stimulating activities to promote interest, curiosity, exploration and engagement.

Children are taught within mixed age (4-7years) and mixed ability groups of up to 8 children.

The curriculum includes:

• English: Reading, Writing, Spelling
• Language, Communication + Social Interaction
• Speaking and Listening
• Maths
• Science
• Geography + History
• RE + celebration of British Values and other cultures
• SRE
• ICT
• PE
• Physical development
• Forest School
• Music
• Art +Design
• Mindfulness + Well-Being
• PSHE

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EYFS:

For those children entering within EYFS learning is categorised into:

Learning and development: communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional.

Plus 4 key areas: Literacy, Maths, Understanding of the world and expressive art and design.

These are achieved through play exploring, active learning, creative and thinking critically.

There are additional opportunities available for those children who require additional sensory engagement.

Across the academic year children will engage in themed activities to raise awareness.

These may include:

• Mental Health
• Safety Awareness
• Anti-Bullying
• Online Safety
• Children in Need
• Comic relief

To enhance opportunities for our children the school accesses a range of other specialists to motivate, engage and improve outcomes:

• SAFC, Foundation of Light (sport skills)
• Keep Active (team games)
• Pat Dogs as Therapy (PAT)
• Gardening Club
• The Sage/Charanga (music)

Parents are highly valued and involved from the outset via:

• Induction, visits to the provision, phone calls, Home School Books, meetings
• Weekly Parent Group takes place with an open invite to all parents/carers, as a ‘drop in’ 
• Termly themed Family sessions take place and are well attended

A Play Group runs alongside the Nurture Group Provisions, for children who are referred from Nursery settings. Parents/Carers bring their child into a play environment and remain as part of the group, to also develop their own skills and understanding. 2 staff work with up to 5 children and their parents/carers for up to a 24 week period.

KS1 also offer child observations, advice, CPD and Outreach support as part of a traded service to schools

Interventions which take place both within the Provisions and also as Outreach support within other schools can include:

• Marvin’s Marvellous Moods
• Listening Programme
• Fun Friends
• Black Sheep
• Elsa
• The Colour Monster
• Singing Hands
• Bespoke PSHE programme

EYFS/KS1 Useful Websites

https://www.phonicsplay.co.uk/freeIndex.htm  This is a handy website to help children learn and apply their sounds. This website it also appropriate for Year 1 and some Year 2 children.

https://www.theschoolrun.com/year-1-phonics-screening-check Specific information regarding the Phonics Screening Check that is normally carried out at the end of Year 1

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/levels/z3g4d2p Revision resources for the KS1 syllabus across Literacy, Maths and Science

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Other Resources Available 

For more Early Years and Key Stage 1 online resources click here 

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Ziptales is an interactive tool with over 500+ stories for children of all ages and abilities, with games and quizzes aimed to make reading FUN!  It is available free of charge from Sunderland Libraries for children, parents and teachers – all you need is a library card which can be applied for online through Sunderland Councils web page

In view of the schools’ shut down beginning on Friday this week, Ziptales have added material for schools and libraries headed, Off Site Schooling, on the home page of their web site.

This will explain how teachers, librarians and parents can make good use of Ziptales in delivering online literacy education to pupils while they are at home.

 

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You can read our full EYFS Policy by downloading the PDF below.

  EYFS Policy – PDF