Early Years Foundation Stage
EYFS Lead : Margaret Foster
The Early Years Foundation Stage at Rushmore is a warm and caring learning environment where children grow in confidence and independence while developing their skills in all areas of the curriculum.
Our children come to us as unique seedlings; our dedicated staff nurture and protect each of them, giving everyone the best chance to spread their branches and stand tall
Partnership with Parents
Curriculum in the Early Years
In the Early Years Foundation Stage children learn best when they experience learning first hand, through meaningful interactions with other children and supportive adults, through physical activity and through play. The Early Years curriculum emphasises three prime areas of learning:
- Personal, social and emotional
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
The curriculum breaks down into four further areas of learning:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
- Planned focused activities where adults work with a small group of children at a time. Teachers will differentiate the activity to meet the needs of every child participating
- Small group teaching of early reading and writing through a phonics based programme called Read Write Inc.
- Whole Class teaching for short periods of time such as shared story time, direct teaching (for example of maths), songs, rhymes and discussions
- Opportunities for teacher to work alongside children as they develop their own interest in particular areas of the curriculum
Useful Links
Click here and sign up for free eBooks!
Click here for multi professional support for children under the age of 5!
www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs
https://hungrylittleminds.campaign.gov.uk/
Nursery and Reception
We have two Reception classes with 30 pupils in each class and two Nursery classes with up to 25 pupils in each class. The children's learning experiences are balanced between learning in their classrooms and learning outside. Throughout the day they have access to both outdoor areas. This means the children free flow between the Reception playground and the Nursery playground.
The children’s day has a solid structure which is carefully planned to allow for extended choosing times in the morning and afternoon with carpet sessions at either side of these. During these carpet sessions the children develop speaking and listening, maths, singing, phonics and reading skills while also learning how to to regulate their emotions and interact socially with peers and adults. Autumn Term 1 is focused on settling the children so that they are ready for our full timetable from Autumn 2 onward.
Teaching in Reception and Nursery is organised through a range of approaches and provides a balance of child initiated and adult led activities:
- Planned focused activities where adults work with a small group of children at a time. Teachers will differentiate the activity to meet the needs of every child participating
- Small group teaching of early reading and writing through a phonics based programme called Read Write Inc.
- Whole Class teaching for short periods of time such as shared story time, direct teaching (for example of maths), songs, rhymes and discussions
- Opportunities for teacher to work alongside children as they develop their own interest in particular areas of the curriculum
Forest School
In Rushmore Primary School we are lucky enough to have a small forest area running alongside the Nursery and Reception playgrounds. This is the ideal location for us to explore, learn and have fun in nature. All of our Nursery and Reception children get the opportunity to take part in a series of forest school sessions during their time in the Early Years. Forest School is an fantastic process, that offers ALL learners regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences in a woodland or natural environment.
Click here to see more pictures and to find out about Forest School in the Early Years.
EYFS Topic Overview
Throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage, we use a book of the week to inspire the children’s imagination and creativity. Our topics provide the starting point for developing the children’s learning and engagement in an interesting way. However, we are never rigid in the content we cover and leave space in every day to follow and develop the individual interests of children.
Here are our EYFS topics
Nursery Topic Map
Term |
Topic |
Autumn: 1 |
Ourselves |
Autumn: 2 |
Food & Celebrations |
Spring: 1 |
Traditional Tales |
Spring: 2 |
Animals |
Summer: 1 |
Minibeasts & Growing |
Summer: 2 |
Transport |
Reception Topic Map
Term |
Topic |
Autumn: 1 |
All about me |
Autumn: 2 |
Celebrations |
Spring: 1 |
Space |
Spring: 2 |
Dinosaurs |
Summer: 1 |
Growing |
Summer: 2 |
Under the Sea |
Early Years Policy
Please click here for the Early Years Foundation Stage Policy