Charlotte Nursery and Infant School

The Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in securing solid foundations that our children continue to build upon. It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning.

In EYFS we strongly believe that we are at the beginning of our children’s educational journey. By igniting the flame for learning we are transforming lives, building communities for the future and broadening horizons.

We believe that all children deserve to be valued as an individual and we are passionate in allowing all children to achieve their full, unique potential.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, the children’s social skills are developed and disposition towards learning is encouraged that gives them a great start to their school life.  Activities are carefully planned to encourage the children to become active learners through playing, exploring, creating and thinking.  In our Early Years learning environments we meet the needs and interests of our children by providing a balance between child-initiated learning and activities that are planned by an adult.

The Nursery and Reception staff follow a thematic approach, providing activities across all seven areas of the EYFS framework, through carefully selected topics.  Our topics are chosen to ensure good coverage and breadth if learning.  They are flexible and can be adapted to reflect the interests and needs of the children in any given cohort.

At Charlotte Nursery and Infants School we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework. The E.Y.F.S. is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.

It is developed around 4 themes that underpin the E.Y.F.S.

1. A Unique Child – Observe what a child is learning
2. Positive Relationships – What adults can do
3. Enabling Environments – What adults could provide
4. Learning and Developing – Children’s achievements through the above

Practice in the EYFS is led by the four guiding principles that shape our approach:

• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and is 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,