Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception)

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are thinking of applying for a place at Godinton Primary School for September 2023, click here for more information about the admission process, open evening and Headteacher tours.

 

 

Our Early Years Team work hard to ensure that every child develops a genuine love of learning and achieves their full potential. We have built a holistic, creative curriculum which endeavours to foster an enthusiastic, curious and creative community of learners who embrace challenge, are resilient and have high expectations of themselves and of others.

We believe that happy children who are active, confident, resilient, creative and curious will be successful in all areas of their life. We value the unique needs and interests of every child and ensure that our curriculum holds their ideas at its heart. Our weekly ‘I wonder’ sessions reflect the child’s voice and ensure that their questions and interests are interwoven into our curriculum.

We use the creative arts to inspire and embed a love of learning. Our cross-curricular approach ensures that the ‘Prime Areas of Learning’ underpin all activities and experiences. A balance of child and adult initiated tasks embed and reinforce skills and knowledge through an exciting and holistic approach. Children are encouraged to use language creatively and confidently, they develop strong fine and gross motor skills through a range of practical, first hand experiences and have many opportunities to develop a strong sense of self and establish excellent relationships with others in a caring and nurturing environment.

Our EYFS curriculum has been carefully designed so that it embraces the children’s developing needs and interests. Progression in knowledge, skills and concepts is planned and tailored to inspire every child’s love of learning and ensures that coverage of the EYFS framework is achieved. Our cross-curricular approach enables children to make links in their learning and revisit prior teaching.

Children in the Foundation Stage at Godinton Primary are provided with a wealth of experiences, knowledge and skills which leads to a smooth transition into Key Stage One and prepares them for future success.  We strongly believe that learning should be fun, meaningful and memorable so that children can continue to build upon their knowledge and skills which they retain for life-long learning.

We are committed to equality and aim for every child to fulfil their potential, no matter what their needs are. We value diversity and ensure that our curriculum content is inclusive and accessible for all learners, in line with the SEN code of practice.

At Godinton Primary School, the Early Years Team continue to draw upon their expertise and ensure that research underpins their teaching so that the curriculum evolves and changes as the children grow. We regularly review our provision in order to enrich the education of every child.

‘Magical Moments’ are embedded within the curriculum which are exciting and develop children’s zest for learning. We value and encourage children to recognise their individual strengths, ambitions, skills and dreams so that…

‘Together we shine and reach for the stars’.

 To find out more about our exciting Early Years curriculum at Godinton, please click on the link below.

 

 

 

 

 

Click on the icons below to find out more about each area of our EYFS curriculum.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How Can I Help My Child When They Start School?

Starting school is an exciting step for your child. There is lots of practising you can do with your child to make sure they are ready when the big day comes. If you can do this over the summer, in a gentle and fun way, it will make the transition to big school all that easier for them.

 

 

 

 

 

Talk with your child about starting school and engage with the activities on offer to help them to familiarise themselves with their new school. Read stories about starting school and talk about the things that you did when you were at school. Talk about the routines that you will have once school starts so that they will know what to expect. Have a look at the pictures on our school website to help your child become familiar with the adults who will be working with them and the classroom and outdoor environment.

• Don’t underestimate the importance of developing social abilities and their skills of independence. Encouraging your child to listen to instructions, to take turns and to be patient are all important life skills. Give them opportunities to play with other children and to enjoy activities both with and without you.
• Toilet training your child is also important. Make sure that they know that they can ask to go to the toilet at school; they don’t have to wait to be told. Showing them how to wipe themselves independently and how to pull underwear and tights up is also useful. Don’t forget that they should wash their hands after they have been to the toilet.
• It is helpful if your child is independent in dressing and undressing themselves for when they start their PE lessons. Putting shoes on the right feet often takes some practice!

Once your child has started at school, the teachers will provide you with further information about what you can do to help. Your child will also bring home 3 reports during the academic year which will give you guidance on what they are able to do and what their next learning steps are.

 

Click here to access the special webpages for our 2022 Reception cohort.