Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at St John’s Church of England Academy. We believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life to enable them to fulfil their full potential. The EYFS at St John’s CE Academy builds those foundations in a happy and nurturing environment.

We are delighted to be embarking on a new approach called the ‘Curiosity Approach’ in our EYFS unit which will inspire children through curiosity, awe and wonder. The ingredients of the Curiosity Approach influence the teaching and learning within the EYFS at St John’s CE Academy and enable us to provide an environment with real resources, recycled materials and loose parts that will inspire children and encourage an awareness of the world around them.’

Intent

The curriculum in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is designed to provide a broad and balanced education that meets the needs of all pupils from our 2 Year Old Nursery, 3 Year Old Nursery through to the end of Reception. It facilitates the children to gain the skills, knowledge and understanding, as they start out on their educational journey.

Together with parents/carers, we engage each child and support them to learn through play, including a mixture of adult-led and child-initiated activities which include following the children’s interests. During play, children learn at their highest level, they explore and investigate, helping them to make sense of the world. Activities are planned for both the inside and outside areas.

Many of our children arrive below the national expectations for their age. As such, we prioritise Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication and Language in the curriculum, teaching them how to listen, speak and meet the high expectations for behaviour by working together and being kind. Our enabling environments enable staff to deliver a curriculum to develop a love of reading, writing and number. We provide opportunities for cross curricular links as well as promoting the unique child by offering activities that follow the children’s interests and ideas.