The Foundation Stage

Nursery and Reception children follow the final year of the Foundation stage Curriculum which is based on the QCA guidance for the Foundation Stage and “The Next Step” Early Years Curriculum Guidance for Suffolk.

Our aim is to provide quality learning experiences for all the children; learning that is structured, balanced, relevant to the child and related to the real world. The Foundation Stage Curriculum is divided into six areas of learning. Every day your child will have the opportunity to do the following:
 
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We encourage children to develop confidence, play together and consider the feelings of others. We promote the development of good behaviour and manners and help the children develop a further awareness of themselves.

Communication, Language and Literacy
We encourage children to speak clearly and to listen to each other. There are many opportunities to join in with stories, poems, rhymes, songs and role-play. Children are taught to link sounds to letters and start to recognize the reception key words. From the beginning they are encouraged to develop an interest in books and will be introduced to a reading scheme appropriate to them. They are taught to form recognizable letters, write their own name and are also encouraged to experiment with different writing material so they can attempt writing for a variety of purposes.

Mathematical Development
Children are encouraged to acquire accurate mathematical language, for example. Taller than, in front of, heavier than. They sort objects according to criteria such as size, colour, shape etc. There are opportunities to count objects, recognize numbers 1-10, write them and order them. They learn sequencing skills and explore pattern and shape.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Children are encouraged to use their senses and to describe and discuss what they see and discover. They are encouraged to ask questions about why things happen and how things work. They find out about past and present events in their own life. We use our school grounds, walks into the village, school trips, photographs, visitors, the internet and artefacts to find out about the world we live in. The children are also taught simple IT skills, using a camera and having the opportunity to use our good range of laptops.

Creative Development
Children have many opportunities to express themselves through drawing, painting, collage and model making. They will work collaboratively with a partner or a group. They will learn and sing new songs and rhymes, play percussion instruments and recognize and explore how sounds can be changed. They will be encouraged to use their imagination in dressing up and role-play.

Physical Development
We provide opportunities to run, throw, catch and balance using both small and large equipment. Children are encouraged to travel around, under, over and through balancing equipment. There is one timetabled games lesson a week led by a coach from Ipswich Town Football Club and one session timetabled in the village hall. They also use the enclosed patio and play are every day when the weather is fine, for ride on toys, role play, water and sand play, large construction toys, chalking and painting.