Early Years Foundation Stage - Starting School
Overview
Welcome to EYFS and the start of your child’s learning journey with us at Wheatfields Primary School. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to children from birth to the end of their Reception year.
In our school children are able to join our onsite Preschool at the age of 3 and start in Reception in the year they turn 5. Children joining our school may have also been to a range of settings within the community.
Our aim at Wheatfields is to put the child at the centre of everything we do, nurturing and supporting the whole child and all of their many skills, attributes and talents. We hope that every child starting at Wheatfields feels safe, happy and secure as they start their journey with us, leading to a lifelong love of learning, curiosity and respect for the world they live in and everyone they share it with.
We appreciate that some children may be apprehensive about starting school. To help with this we liaise closely with our pre-school providers and organise a series of visits to school in the summer term so that the children can meet their class teacher and classroom teaching assistant.
To ensure a gentle introduction to school we operate a staggered entry system. The children will join their class in small groups and be given plenty of time to settle.
We must ensure that the individual needs of each child are met and therefore have to be flexible. If this is not appropriate for any child, we look at:
- Emotional maturity – the readiness to operate independently of the home for a substantial part of the school day.
- Social maturity – the readiness to form relationships with other children.
- Specific individual circumstances that directly affect the child.
Full discussion takes place with the parents if it is felt appropriate for a child’s entry to school to be more gradually phased.
Preparation for school
The best way to help your child with the start of school is to develop their independence with certain skills.
Can your child.......
- Get dressed and undressed for PE
- Put on and take off their coat
- Blow their nose
- Use a knife and fork
- Tidy away their toys
- Share and take turns
- Go to the toilet independently
For more information on what to expect from Foundation Stage for your child, why not read "A Typical Week in EYFS at Wheatfields Primary School" (see bottom of page) or take a look at the documents below for "What to expect in EYFS" and "New Starter Advice".
Curriculum and Environment
We create an attractive and stimulating learning environment that sparks a child’s interests and curiosity to learn, helping them to feel secure, confident and challenged. Children have daily, free flow opportunities both indoor and out with activities carefully planned based on both child interest and building upon prior learning.
In both our preschool and school we follow ‘Birth to Five matters’ and we use this to inform our planning based on the needs of the cohort. At the end of the child’s reception year at school they will be assessed against the EYFS Early Learning Goals in the 7 areas of learning.
Phonics
During the first year of school and thereafter, your child will be taught Phonics, using the Storytime Phonics Scheme.
Storytime phonics teaches each sound with a story in a fun, multi-sensory way and the children really engage with this style of learning.
There is a curriculum meeting in September to further explain the EYFS curriculum and how it is taught. Below are also some helpful guides that you may find informative.
- Handwriting Families Sparkle Mark Ryhmes.pdf
- Fine Motor Skills and Early Writing.pdf
- Subitising Guide for Parents.pdf