In the Reception Class at Wells-Next-The-Sea Primary and Nursery school we follow the EYFS statutory Guidance for the Foundation Stage. This was updated for September 2021. We also use the updated Birth to Five matters document to support our planning, teaching and learning.

More information on the curriculum can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

https://www.early-education.org.uk/birth-to-five-matters

On entering Reception Class the children will take part in the Government Baseline Assessment process, alongside our own observational based baseline assessment process. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2021-reception-baseline-assessment-assessment-and-reporting-arrangements-ara

At the end of the Reception Year your child’s progress will be measured to see if they have met the expected standard against the Early Learning Goals.

Planning is displayed within the classroom so you will know what we are learning about. We use Class Dojo to post pictures and videos of our learning throughout the week, so parents can see what we have been doing in class. We are always happy to chat to you individually about your child’s learning and development.​​​​​​

Planning in the Early Years’ Foundation Stage is based upon the children’s interests. We call our medium term planning Possible Lines of Direction, we also have topics and themes for each half term that we follow. Each day the children take part in a phonics and maths session. We use core stories as a starting point for our learning and we like to provide the children with experiences outside of the classroom through educational visits, and visitors in school to enhance their learning, we often visit local shops and businesses too. We have our very own woodland on the school site and each week Reception class take part in a woodland learning session run by Butterflies of Britain.

As in Nursery your child will have a Learning Journal where we collate observations, photographs and videos throughout the year. We use the online learning journal system called EExAT to do this, there is a parent app for parents to access their child’s journal, we really welcome your contributions too. Assessment for learning can only be made through your child using their new skills independently, this means the learning is embedded.

Ethos: At Wells Next the Sea Primary and Nursery School in Reception Class we want to provide the best possible learning experiences for young children.

• recognition of the uniqueness of each child’s capacity and potential
• an holistic view of each child’s development
• recognition of the importance of play as a central integrating element in a child’s development and learning
• an ecological view of humankind in the natural world
• recognition of the integrity of childhood in its own right
• recognition of the child as a part of a family and a community

• knowledgeable and appropriately qualified early years professionals
• skilled and informed observation of children, to support effective development, learning and teaching.
• awareness that education relates to all capabilities of each child, imaginative, creative, symbolic, linguistic, mathematical, musical, aesthetic, scientific, physical, social, moral, cultural and spiritual.
• parent/ carers and educators working in harmony
• first hand experiences, play, talk and reflection
• activities and opportunities that have sense, purpose and meaning to the child and involve joy, wonder, unity, concentration and satisfaction.
• an holistic approach to learning which recognises children as active, feeling and thinking human beings.
• individual and collaborative activity and play
• an approach to learning which develops children’s autonomy and self confidence.

• physically safe yet intellectually challenging, promoting curiosity, enquiry, sensory stimulation and aesthetic awareness.
• Engaging, motivating and interesting to encourage high levels of involvement and deep level learning.
• demonstrates the unity of indoors and outdoors and the natural environment
• allows free access to a rich range of materials that promote open ended opportunities for play, representation and creativity.
• Well resourced and enhanced weekly to reflect the children’s every changing needs and interests.