Early Years at Alfred Sutton Primary School comprise of two Nursery classes and three Reception classes. When children are aged 3-5 years old, they do some of their most important learning

and develop the skills needed to underpin all their future understanding.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is based on four principles:

• The Unique Child

• Positive Relationships

• Enabling Environments

• Learning and Development

Children are born with a natural desire to explore and learn and they do their deepest and most meaningful learning through play. At Alfred Sutton, children take part in a range of indoor and outdoor learning opportunities. Our environment provides opportunities for the children to develop skills, enable personal discovery, grow in confidence and practise resilience. We make sure that we develop positive relationships and the professionals teaching and supporting in Early Years ensure the available provision and activities are suited to the children’s individual and unique needs.

We are a fully inclusive school and provide individualised learning and support to help all children make progress and achieve their full potential. We encourage independence, teamwork and curiosity. We celebrate each child’s individual achievements and encourage a sense of pride in them.

Early Years Foundation Stage framework

At Alfred Sutton, we are guided by the EYFS Characteristics of Effective Learning and aim to provide a rich and stimulating environment where the children can learn by ‘playing and exploring, active learning and creative and critical thinking.’

The curriculum is carefully planned to ensure progression and continuity of skills in seven interconnected areas of learning and development, or Early Learning Goals (ELG).

Three prime areas reflect the fundamental skills all children need to develop and learn effectively in order to be ready for school:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) – making relationships, self-confidence and self-awareness, managing feelings and behaviour

• Communication and Language (CL) – listening and attention, understanding, speaking

• Physical Development (PD) – moving and handling, health and self-care

There are also four specific areas through which the prime areas are strengthened:

• Literacy (L) – reading, writing

• Mathematics (MD) – numbers, shape, space and measure

• Understanding the world (UW) – people and communities, the world and technology

• Expressive arts and design (EAD) – exploring and using media and materialism being imaginative

EYFS Curriculum Documents:

• Parents’ Guide to the Early Foundation Stage Framework

• What to expect, when – EYFS Milestones 0 to 5

• Early Learning Goals – Parents and Carers Guide

• Activities to Try at Home – Parents and Carers Guide

• Characteristics of Effective Learning – Mr Men