Intent

At Field Lane we believe that all children deserve an education rich in wonder and memorable experiences that foster natural creativity and curiosity, alongside the purposeful acquisition of skills and knowledge.

We value the EYFS as a unique phase of learning through which children develop the confidence and independence to become confident independent learners.   We believe our effective early education empowers children by building on their motivations for learning, recognising their unique skills and talents and encouraging high aspirations that drive children to do and be their best.

We have 5 clear aims in the EYFS . We want our children to be:

1. Ready to learn:

Children have a positive, confident attitude to learning. They are both physically and emotionally ready to learn and happy and proud of their own achievements.

2. Resourceful:

Children show initiative, select and use resources independently, make choices about their self-initiated learning and confidently use their own ideas.

3. Reflective:

Children are curious, able and willing to learn from what they observe, experience and do. 

4. Resilient:

Children are prepared to persevere and stay involved in their learning, even when the process is challenging.  They solve problems by developing and using different approaches.

5. Reciprocal: Children work and learn together and understand the role others play in their learning.

Because we believe that high levels of engagement lead to high levels of attainment, our curriculum is designed around children’s interests and fascinations, offering first- hand learning experiences that are both real and meaningful.

Enabling Environment

We believe that our learning environment plays a crucial role in developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes important for happy, purposeful and successful learning.   Our aim is to provide high quality indoor and outdoor learning opportunities in well considered learning spaces, enabling children to move freely and use resources creatively and independently.  The learning environment facilitates large and adult directed teaching and learning and child- initiated learning for children as individuals or in small or large groups.

Pedagogical Approach

We feel passionate about our warm, sensitive approach to children’s well-being and levels of development.  We believe that learning is most effective when children feel happy and secure. Effective and meaningful interactions are essential for growing trusted relationships, valuing children’s interests and scaffolding new learning skilfully.

Recognising that all children start Field Lane with varied experiences we provide learning opportunities that widen their knowledge and understanding of the world, with ambitious expectations for all children. Our curriculum celebrates diversity, supporting every unique child’s social, emotional, cultural and moral development.

Those children with particular needs, including SEND, are supported appropriately allowing them to be successful.

Implementation

Our curriculum is broad and balanced, building on the knowledge, understanding and skills children bring with them from their varied starting points.  The aim of our curriculum is to develop a love of learning through:

• Providing child initiated activities in line with children’s starting points which enhance their learning and impact on progress.
• Developing an effective and engaging environment that is rich in language whilst taking into consideration the need for the children to be able to access all areas of learning, both inside and outside.
• Providing high quality interactions with adults that demonstrate and impact on the progress of all children.
• Ensuring that ‘The Unique Child’ is at the forefront of adult’s interactions and adopting a nurturing approach for those pupils who might need some reassurance to enable them to succeed.
•  Using high quality questioning and interactions to check understanding and address misconceptions.
•  Staff acting as role models to the children they teach in order for children to develop their own speaking and listening skills.
•  Carefully assessing, through observations, which are recorded on Tapestry and shared with parents. These are used to inform the next steps of learning and meet individual needs.
• Allowing children to be successful in their attempts at an activity and using effective feedback to help facilitate next steps in learning, adding an appropriate level of challenge.

Suggesting home learning opportunities with information about what has been taught, allowing parents to build on their child’s school experiences, at home. We recognise the changing needs and interests of our children and are responsive to this.

Impact

From their own starting points, children will make excellent progress academically and socially, developing the confidence they need to meet new challenges in Key Stage 1.

Children will demonstrate high levels of engagement in activities, developing their speaking and listening skills, enabling them to access all areas of learning and communicate to both adults and children.

Children will develop skills across all areas of the curriculum including Literacy, Mathematics and Physical Development using these in different ways.

Children will have developed a wider sense of the world around them and can draw on these experiences during interactions with others and link this to new learning.

Children will have developed the Characteristics of Learning and be able to apply their knowledge to a range of situations making links and explaining their ideas and understanding.

Children will be confident to take risks and discuss their successes and outcomes, drawing from their experiences and making adjustments.

We will also aim to help children to make sense of the world around them, to develop tolerance, compassion and an understanding of their rights and the rights of others in an ever evolving world.

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage children will have developed the knowledge and skills required to progress along their learning journey. Children will leave the EYFS at Field Lane as happy, inquisitive and successful learners.