Year R

What is Early Years like here at CPS?

Early Years Foundation Stage learning is based on learning through play.

The children get to explore, experience and learn through their own ideas and developing skills where they are not afraid to make mistakes. The environment is safe and accessible. We allow the children to plan their own ideas, and we facilitate this through ensuring the environment is set up and practical to allow the learning to take place. We have a full time Learning Support Assistant and two Year R teachers, both trained in teaching in the Early Years. The EY blends teacher led activities and continuous provision, which allows the diverse areas of learning based on the children's interests. The adults provide the in depth questioning and their knowledge of how to plan 'in the moment' to move the children's learning on.

The Early Years Curriculum, assessment and progress

There are seven areas of learning and development that shape our educational programme in Year R. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected. Three areas are particularly important for building foundations for igniting children's curiosity an enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are Communication and Language , Personal, social and emotional development and Physical Development.

We also support children through Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

There is a level of development that children should be expected to obtain by the end of Year R, known as the Early Learning Goals.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/919681/Early_adopter_schools_EYFS_profile_handbook.pdf

Assessment plays an important part in helping us recognise children's progress, understand their needs, and plan activities and support. We use Tapestry, an online learning journal to provide ongoing assessment which links home and school.

At the end of Year R an EYFS profile is completed for each child which indicates whether or not children have met the expected levels of development. We share these results with parents, carers and the Year 1 teacher.