EYFS

EYFS at Iceni Primary Academy

At Iceni Primary Academy, we believe that the Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in providing the foundations of learning that can be built on for the rest of the child’s years at school. We provide children with the best possible foundation for their future learning.

We strive to personalise each child’s education, by linking their starting points, interests and the curriculum to their learning and the EYFS environment. Our aim is for every child to reach their full potential by providing first hand learning experiences, allowing children to build resilience, ambition and integrity, celebrate differences and instil a lifelong love of learning.

We have staff who are skilled to support all children as their adventure begins by allowing them to become confident individuals engaging in a range of activities.

By providing high-quality education, a balance of child-led and adult-led learning, enriching experiences, careful planning and assessment, timely intervention and collaboration with parents, we believe we provide children with the very best start to their school life.

We follow the Development Matters curriculum, which is made up of seven areas of learning:

The Prime Areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

The Specific Areas:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts

These areas have a further three overarching elements, called ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’, which are at the heart of the EYFS curriculum:

• Playing and Learning
• Active Learning
• Thinking Critically

We have written a long-term plan, which incorporates these areas of the curriculum, as well as stretching the most fascinated of minds! Each topic starts by asking children what they would like to know, this is built into the topic, which is based on small focussed activities and child initiated activities inside and outside, based in our free flow classroom. We assess children constantly to ensure they are developing and invite parents in regularly to look through work together and discuss how their child is getting on.

We use continuous provision planning to challenge all pupils based on their current level of working, to reach the next stage. This prepares them for year one and beyond.

Reading at Iceni Primary Academy: Reading, Phonics and SPAG