Early Years

The EYFS is based upon four principles:

• every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured;
• children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships;
• children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers;
• children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

At Chapelford Village Primary School we aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all of our children, thereby giving them a strong foundation for their future learning and well-being.

The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning:

Prime areas

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

Specific areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

These areas are delivered throughout the topic and linked closely together. They are equally important and depend on each other. All areas are delivered through a balance of adult led and child initiated activities.

EYFS have their own outdoor area used all year round in all weathers. Being outdoors encourages learning in different ways. It offers the children more opportunities to be creative and explore on a larger scale as well as to be physically active linking the indoors and outdoors together. Children will have opportunity to experience all seven areas of learning whether they decide to learn indoors or outdoors.

We deliver learning for all of the areas through, purposeful play and learning experiences, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.

“Children’s play reflects their wide ranging and varied interests and preoccupations.

In their play children learn at their highest level.”

Children’s play reflects their wide ranging and varied interests and preoccupations. In their play, children can be inquisitive, creative, questioning and experimental and will learn at their highest level. Playing with their peers is important for children’s development. Through play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which help them make sense of the world. The adults model play and play sensitively with the children fitting in with their plans and ideas. The children are encouraged to try new activities and judge risks for themselves. We talk to them about how we get better at things through effort and practice and that we can all learn when things go wrong. They practice and build up ideas learning how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. Chapelford Village Primary School staff and Governors believe that all individual learning styles should be recognised and honoured in a creative learning environment. The way in which we learn is as important to progress and success as what we learn.

You can find out more information about the Early Years Curriculum and the updated Development Matters document here.

Please enjoy a virtual tour of Early Years by clicking the picture below. 

At Chapelford Village we follow the Read Write Inc. phonics scheme starting in EYFS and continuing through Key Stage One.

More information about Read, Write inc. and resources can be found by clicking the icon above

Early in the Academic Year we have a phonics meeting with all new parents to explain how we learn to read in school and some top tips for encouraging a lifelong love of reading at home.

Handwriting

Handwriting can sometimes be a frustrating thing to learn! But there’s a lot you can do to help. Support your child to get into good habits early and they’ll really benefit later in their school life – and beyond.

How to help at home

Here are some ways you can support your child as they practise their handwriting:

1. Check the pencil grip

Make sure your child adopts the correct pencil grip from the start – it is almost impossible to correct bad habits later. See below for the different stages of pencil grip.

2. Are you sitting comfortably?

When your child is writing, make sure they are sitting comfortably with their feet touching the floor or a footrest. Writing is easier when you have a stable body.

4. Write in the sand

Give your child opportunities to do some non-permanent writing. This takes the pressure off early writers – if their handwriting isn’t perfect, they can just wash or brush it away and start again.

Write in the sand at the beach. Write in the mud at the park. Fill a clear sandwich bag that closes with some washing-up liquid and glitter; get your child to write (gently) on this. Ask your child to write letters or words on your back with their finger – can you guess what it is?

5. Get crafty

Continue to encourage your child to draw, colour, paint, and do crafting activities at home using a range of different materials. These activities all provide opportunities to develop control, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

Add some writing to the crafts – can they write with chalk, paint brushes or crayons? Can they make an attractive sign for their door or books?

6. Practice makes perfect

Good handwriting needs lots of practise. Practise handwriting with your child a few times every week – perhaps using the week’s spelling words. This will help

them to develop good habits and strong muscles in their hands (and good spelling). Use special handwriting paper to check the position of each letter.

EYFS Handwriting

To see what has been happening in Early Years, click on the Twitter logo below!

Year 6 Buddies

Year 6 have buddied up with our EYFS classes. The Year 6 children have the opportunity to go back to the classroom that their Chapelford journey first began. The buddy system is an important part of our school life. It allows older children to take on some responsibility, whilst giving younger children someone they can look to for support. It promotes friendship and support between older and younger peers which fosters a sense of whole-school community. It is wonderful to see the older children take a supporting role, allowing the Reception children to flourish and grow in confidence. Take a look at some of the activities they do together. 

Year 6 Buddy Activities