At Winyates we believe that every child deserves the best possible start to life and that high quality early learning provides the foundation for children to make the best of their talents and abilities.

At this stage of development major consideration is given to the individual needs and interests of the children and this informs a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child across all areas of learning and development. We ensure our children have the opportunity to play and explore, actively learn and think critically – making full use of both our inside and outside space.

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KEY PRINCIPLES:

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• Every child is a unique individual who is constantly learning.

• Children learn to be independent through positive relationships

• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments

• Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

Our Curriculum meets the requirements set out in the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021). These detail seven areas of learning and development, each important and interconnected:
 
The Prime Areas of Development are particularly crucial for engaging pupil’s curiosity and enthusiasm, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and achieve.
 
Communication and Language
We give our children opportunities to experience a rich and varied language environment to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
 
Physical Development
We provide opportunities for the children to be active and develop their co-ordination, control and movement. They are helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
 
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We are committed to helping our children develop a positive sense of themselves and to form constructive relationships; they learn to manage their feelings and to understand appropriate behaviour.
 
The Specific Areas follow on from the Prime Areas:
 
Literacy
The children are encouraged to link sounds and letters in order to begin to write, we use the ReadWriteInc. scheme in common with the rest of the school. They are given access to a wide range of reading material to ignite and follow upon their interests.
 
Mathematics
We provide opportunities for children to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple arithmetic and describing shapes, spaces and measures.
 
Understanding the World
We help children to make sense of the world through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about  people, places, technology and the environment.
 
Expressive Arts and Design
We encourage children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. They have many opportunities to express themselves through art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.
 
Our curriculum and provision is also informed by our commitment to our School Values which are reinforced and inform our planning, activities, teaching and our core behaviours.

• The focus on our work in the EYFS stage is to equip the children to succeed as they transition into KS1 by encouraging them to be confident and happy with themselves and to provide a solid base of skills, understanding and experience upon which they can build.