Intent

St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School believes that all children deserve an Early Year education rich in memorable experiences that allows children’s creativity and curiosity to grow, alongside the development of key skills and knowledge. We believe that providing our children a strong foundation and a love of learning gives them the best chance to become well-rounded, happy individuals, ready to learn and succeed in an ever-changing world.  We recognise the importance of giving our children the best possible start to their education by planning and implementing teaching and learning opportunities that support them in reaching their full potential.  It is our intention to provide a stimulating learning environment where all children can work with adults and peers in a climate of mutual respect to develop confidence in their ability to learn. We aim to provide children with a well-structured, nurturing safe and active learning environment. This will enable our young learners to develop the skills, attitudes and understanding that support our children to become lifelong learners and encourage them to become active members of our community.

Implementation

We recognise that children will learn most effectively when they are healthy, safe and secure, when their individual needs are met and when they have positive relationships with the adults who care for them. We aim to provide a setting that encompasses a safe and stimulating environment where children are able to enjoy learning and grow in confidence.

In Early Years, we begin with a strong emphasis on intentional teaching sessions and adult-led activities to build the foundation of the children’s learning skills and knowledge and understanding of the curriculum, so that they can apply this learning to child-initiated activities and through continuous provision.   The curriculum is planned and implemented using a Learning Experience approach across the school. This approach gives children the opportunities to apply learning from across the curriculum, giving their work practical context and also opportunities to apply knowledge and skills they have learned through a variety of learning opportunities.  Each half term, children will study a new Learning Experience which incorporates a range of topics. These are introduced to our children in a fun, imaginative and creative way.  Each ‘Learning Experience’ is then delivered through a staged approach incorporating an initial engagement stage to capture the children’s imagination in their new topic or theme of learning. This learning then develops through a series of lessons that build skills, knowledge and understanding within that area of learning. At the end of each Learning Experience , children will have produced a final outcome which allows them to celebrate their achievements and reflect on their learning, this celebration is often shared with parents and carers and other family members.

Throughout Reception, our children are assessed in relation to their progress towards Development Matters and the Early Learning Goals. These judgements are made on the basis of accumulative observations and in-depth knowledge of the children acquired through ongoing assessments. Next steps are taught in the moment during continuous provision and adult led activities to ensure children are challenged. End-of-year assessments are finalised during the summer term, summarising each child’s development at that point against the Early Learning Goals and Development Matters.  Progress and ‘wow’ moments are shared with parents through the use of Tapestry.

Impact

Our children will be actively engaged in their learning and the enjoyment of this learning will be apparent in their daily provision.  All children will have experienced a curriculum that provides exciting and enriching learning experiences and opportunities for them to learn through educational visits and practical experiences.  

Our young learners will be able to appreciate and understand the world around them by experiencing and learning about different cultures, celebrations, music, dance, art and history. Children will be inquisitive actively asking questions about the world around them and their learning experiences. They will be able to take risks as this is an opportunity to learn.  

We also aim to help children to make sense of the world around them, through our school values of Leadership, Patience, Justice, Compassion, Respect and Stewardship. Our children will be successful learners and fully prepared for the next stage of their education as they transition from Early Years Foundation Stage into Key Stage One.  We know that by the end of Foundation Stage at St Wilfrid’s Catholic Primary School, our children will be happy, inquisitive and successful learners who will have developed the essential knowledge and skills required for everyday life and lifelong learning.