Hade Edge Junior, Infant and Nursery School

INTENT

• Our intention within our Early Years unit is to facilitate curiosity through play and active learning. We aim to lay the foundations for children to be enthusiastic learners, who are self-motivated, resilient and take a pride in their work and achievements.
• In order to facilitate the above, staff work hard to create a safe environment where positive relationships are fostered and children and encouraged to develop their social skills such as turn taking.

IMPLEMENTATION

• Learning is facilitated by the careful planning of wide and varied activities, which expose the children to engaging learning experiences. Staff plan half termly topics, based on the children’s interests which allow children to develop their skills in line with the Early Learning Goals. In addition, the classroom is set up so that children can independently access a range of resources and equipment that allow them to develop their own learning based on their own interests. Planning is extremely flexible and allows staff to not only follow the children’s interest but also their needs and abilities.
• Staff continually monitor the progress of the children within nursery and reception and are skilfully able to extend their learning through careful questioning and adult scaffolding. Staff use Class Dojo to communicate observations of children in class with parents. Observations undertaken feed into next steps for specific children as well as groups and whole class teaching and planning.
• All EYFS staff have half termly progress meetings where all children’s learning, progress and next steps are discussed to ensure that all children are making progress. Following this, children who may need additional support are identified and discussions with parents take place.

• At Hade Edge we are very aware of the important role that parents /carers play in their child’s development. Prior to starting in reception / nursery children and families are invited in to school for 3 ‘stay and play sessions’ as well as a new starters meeting for parents, where we discuss phonics as well as the Early Years curriculum and Early Learning Goals.
• Families are also invited in to school half termly for a stay and play session. In addition, families are invited in to school each Friday for our Golden Book assembly as well as for whole school events such as Christmas nativities, Spring fairs and Summer gala.  (Pre Covid)
• Daily communication take place with families through the use of Class Dojo and families are invited to discuss their child’s progress at least termly.

IMPACT

• Outcomes within our Early Years are good.
• Our small reception cohorts mean that data can fluctuate yearly depending on the needs of the pupils within the year group but all pupils make good or outstanding progress given their starting points.
• The majority of pupils are ready for Year 1, dependant on their individual needs. Those who need to further consolidate their learning are quickly identified and discussions take place between the staff in Early Years / Key Stage 1 and families about how the child can be best supported to accelerate progress.