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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

Clear and open communications with parents and carers is a priority for us. We work with parents to ensure that every child settles quickly into the setting and continue to work in partnership with them throughout their child's time in the early years. 

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
Curriculum delivery in Reception and Nursery
Teaching in Reception and Nursery is organised through a range of approaches and provides a balance of child initiated and adult led activities following the 
  • 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 to find out more about Read Write Inc - the phonics programme used here at Rushmore
 https://www.ruthmiskin.com/en/find-out-more/parents/#lg=1&slide=2

 Click here and sign up for free eBooks!

Click here for multi professional support for children under the age of 5!

www.foundationyears.org.uk

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/websites/eyfs 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/using-the-hungry-little-minds-brand

 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