“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.”

                         (Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage, 2023)

At Hippings Methodist Primary School, we endeavour to provide the best possible all-round education in a Christian setting.  We deliver precious learning experiences for all children to achieve their full potential whilst ensuring they have an enjoyment of learning and their emotional needs are met.  Each day, children are encouraged to uphold the school’s Christian ethos through the teaching and modelling of our Christian values.  We believe that, ‘As a family we do our best with God in our hearts’.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is based upon 4 principles:

A unique child – We recognise that every child is a competent learner who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. Children’s attitudes and dispositions to learning are influenced by feedback from others. We use praise and encouragement as well as celebration and rewards to develop a positive attitude towards learning.

Positive relationships – We recognise that children learn to be strong and independent through secure relationships and pride ourselves on ensuring that caring, respectful and professional partnerships are formed between practitioners, children and their families.

Enabling environments - We recognise that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending the children’s development. Through observations, we assess the children’s interests, stages of development and learning needs before planning exciting activities and experiences to challenge and extend their learning.

Learning and development – We understand that children develop and learn at different rates. The classroom is organised to allow them to explore and learn securely and safely. There are learning areas where children are able to find and locate equipment and resources independently. There are spaces to be active, be quiet and to rest.

Three areas are crucial to develop lifelong learning and to help children form relationships.

These prime areas of learning are:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Additionally, there are four areas through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied.

These specific areas of learning are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

When planning and guiding what the children learn, our EYFS team reflect on the different rates at which pupils are developing and adjust their practice accordingly. Three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:

• Playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
• Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
• Creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things

Each child is assigned a key person. The key person role helps to ensure that every child’s learning and care is tailored to meet their individual needs.

Early Learning Goals

The level of development that children are expected to have attained by the end of the EYFS is defined by the Early Learning Goals (ELGs). The ELGs support teachers to make a holistic, best-fit judgement about a child’s development, and their readiness for Year 1.

Early Years education is the foundation upon which young children build the rest of their schooling. Our Early Years Foundation Stage Policy outlines the purpose, nature and management of the Early Years Foundation Stage at Hippings Methodist Primary School.