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    • Early Years Foundation Stage

    Intent

    At St Michael’s Primary School, we believe that every child is a unique individual, created in the image of God, and full of potential. Our Early Years curriculum is grounded in our Christian vision and values of resilience, courage, empathy, kindness, aspiration, and collaboration, and designed to provide a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment where every child can flourish.

    We understand that children arrive with a range of experiences, and we work closely with families to build on what children know and can do. Our curriculum is ambitious, inclusive, and developmentally appropriate, fostering a love of learning, curiosity, and a strong foundation for future learning. It reflects our locality, community, and diverse wider world, celebrating difference and promoting equity and inclusion from the start.

    We aim for children to:

    • Become confident communicators and active listeners.

    • Build strong, respectful relationships with peers and adults.

    • Develop resilience and courage to face challenges.

    • Show empathy and kindness in their actions and attitudes.

    • Aspire to be the best they can be, through exploration, creativity, and enquiry.

    • Learn collaboratively, valuing others’ contributions and working together.

    Our curriculum is carefully designed to develop the Characteristics of Effective Learning:

    • Playing and exploring – encouraging curiosity and willingness to ‘have a go’.

    • Active learning – building motivation, persistence and pride in achievements.

    • Creating and thinking critically – developing reasoning, problem-solving and reflection.

    We embrace a Growth Mindset ethos and a Christian understanding of hope and perseverance, enabling children to approach learning positively, knowing mistakes are part of the journey.

    Implementation

    A smooth and nurturing transition into EYFS is essential. We build strong partnerships with parents and carers through home visits, transition sessions, and open communication. Early relationships are at the heart of everything we do, providing children with emotional security and a sense of belonging.

    We offer a balanced curriculum that intertwines adult-led and child-initiated experiences, shaped by children’s interests and needs. Our curriculum is underpinned by robust pedagogical principles, drawing on research from the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), Birth to 5 Matters, and current Church of England guidance on spiritual development in the early years.

    Children are supported to develop through the seven areas of learning:

    • Communication and Language – developing expressive and receptive language.

    • Personal, Social and Emotional Development – forming relationships, managing feelings, and developing a positive self-image.

    • Physical Development – supporting coordination, health, and well-being.

    • Literacy – nurturing a love for reading and early writing.

    • Mathematics – embedding mathematical thinking through practical, meaningful experiences.

    • Understanding the World – fostering awe, wonder, and appreciation of diversity.

    • Expressive Arts and Design – providing freedom to explore, create and imagine.

    We value outdoor learning, enabling children to take risks, work collaboratively, and experience God's creation. Our well-organised continuous provision offers challenge, independence, and sustained shared thinking. Adults scaffold and extend learning through purposeful interactions, high-quality questioning, and modelling.

    We prioritise early reading through daily, systematic phonics teaching (using our chosen scheme aligned with Letters and Sounds), shared storytelling, and rich vocabulary development. Reading materials are matched to phonic knowledge and supported by home learning partnerships.

    Transitions are carefully managed. Children are gradually introduced to Year 1 routines, classrooms and adults. Our aim is for all children to leave Reception ready to thrive in Key Stage 1—socially, emotionally, spiritually and academically.

    Impact

    By the end of the EYFS, children at St Michael’s are well-rounded, resilient learners who are prepared for the challenges of Year 1 and beyond. They demonstrate:

    • The ability to work with others with kindness and empathy.

    • Confidence to take risks and face challenges with courage.

    • A sense of personal aspiration and motivation.

    • Strong communication, problem-solving and social skills.

    • A secure understanding of the Christian values that underpin our school community.

    We track progress using a mix of formative and summative assessment, including the Reception Baseline Assessment, ongoing observational assessment against the Development Matters framework, and final Early Learning Goal judgements. Progress is regularly shared with parents and carers through Learning Journeys and parent consultations.

    We value the voices of children and their families. Parent contributions and home learning are key parts of our assessment, reflecting the importance of collaboration in children’s development. Staff regularly engage in professional development, moderation and reflective practice to continually improve provision.

    Ultimately, our EYFS children leave Reception as curious, capable and compassionate learners who understand their place in God’s world and are equipped to make a positive difference.