Foundation Stage
Mrs Thackrey is our Foundation Stage Leader
We admit children from the term after their third birthday into our Nursery class, and then into our Foundation 2 class the term after their fourth birthday. Mrs Thackery is the EYFS leader and is able to provide further information regarding the curriculum as required.
The Oxford Owl Website has produced this helpful guide to getting ready for school.
Our Foundation Stage is an integral first step to your child’s career at Pearson Primary School. It is within the Foundation Stage that we will first teach your child about the school’s core values and this sets the tone for all of your child’s future years in our school. In line with the whole school curriculum key drivers, we focus on teaching children the skills to be successful members of a community, keen learners of language and confident explorers of the world around them.
The Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards for promoting the learning, development and safety of children in our setting. Additionally, our ambition for the Foundation Stage curriculum aligns exactly with our whole school curriculum ambition. We expect that all children are academically ready for the demands of their next stage of education and that they are highly effective at interacting with the world for the benefit of themselves and others. In the Foundation Stage, this requires us to deliver a curriculum that provides all children with the pre-requisite knowledge that they require to be ready for Year 1. We provide a broad and balanced curriculum which enables every child to develop personally, emotionally, physically, creatively and intellectually to their full potential.
Alongside daily teaching sessions, we provide a fun and stimulating environment in which we can provide your child with new experiences to explore and opportunities to practise and apply what they have learned. Our curriculum is flexible enough to build on your child’s interests and previous experiences and we firmly believe that children thrive best when there is a strong partnership between the school and the child’s family so we make sure that this relationship is strong through face to face and online communication. We really do want to get you know you and your family well for the benefit of your child’s education.
Outdoor learning is a key part of our Foundation Stage provision and children will be expected to work outside every day. Warm coats and wellies are a must!
F1 Opening times – Morning session 8.45 – 11.45
The Reception Baseline Check (RBC) is a short, interactive and practical assessment of your child’s early literacy, communication, language and mathematics skills when they begin school. Its main purpose is to create a starting point to measure the progress schools make with their pupils. The video below will explain the RBC in more detail.
Communication and Language
We have mapped out ambitious language that we teach our children throughout the year and we celebrate the ‘wonderful words’ that the children bring to the setting too. Every day the children enjoy ‘Talk Through Stories’ time which introduces them to new vocabulary in stories and helps them to understand the meaning of new words through their own lived experiences.
A key focus for our children is giving them time to communicate as a whole class. We sit down with the children at the start of every day and give them time to talk about how they are feeling and what they are going to do during the day. This supports children to talk to each other and to the whole group with increasing confidence. Sitting in a circle is the starting point of working restoratively, which is a core value of the school. We know how important it is that children can build and maintain respectful relationships for learning.
SHINE – Developing Outdoor Learning and Communication in 2023
This year we are developing outdoor learning and communication at Pearson Primary School. This is being supported through a project called ‘SHINE’.
Young children thrive, and their minds and bodies develop best, when they have free access to a stimulating outdoor environment for learning through play and real experiences. Being outdoors supports confidence and allows opportunities for problem solving, risk taking and creativity.
We believe that all children have the right to experience and enjoy the special nature of being outdoors. We aim to enhance language and communication through children’s natural curiosity in the outdoors whilst being supported by the adults in the Foundation Stage.
Over the course of the year we would love for you to join us outdoors and learn more about supporting your child in the outdoor environments.
Our first event will be a plant it and paint it event on Thursday 30th March. More details to follow.
Reading
Children begin learning phonics (the sounds that letters make) as soon as they start in the Foundation Stage. We use the Read, Write, Inc. programme of study and expect that all children will become confident and enthusiastic readers. We make sure that extra support is provided, where required, so that all children learn to read and we will provide regular training and updates for your family so that together we can make every child a reader.
In F1 and F2 children have the opportunity to choose and take home a weekly library book. They will bring home the sounds that they are learning for further practice. Foundation 2 children will also have an individual reading book when they are ready and a reading journal to support their reading at home.
Stay and read is on Wednesday morning 8.45 – 9.15.
Writing
Early writing is taught through the Read, Write, Inc. programme. Children learn simple sayings to remember the letter formation of the sounds that they are learning. We encourage children to embed early writing by giving them further opportunities to practice writing for a reason, using a wide range of resources and equipment, throughout the setting. We know that all children are different and we tailor our provision and resources throughout the year to meet their individual needs.
Number
Numbers can be found all around the setting, we work in small groups to look at numbers and shapes throughout the week, and staff are quick to recognise and praise children when they use numbers in their play. We have also developed the foundation stage to give children opportunities that allow them to use the language of size, shape and measures during continuous provision
Information for parents
Pearson Primary School has gone above and beyond the realms of every day teaching and learning in this challenging year. Thank you to the wonderful staff for all they do, both seen and unseen. Our child is happy, inspired, challenged, supported and making progress – what more could we ask for?
I have had a lovely afternoon hearing the Year 1 children read so thank you. I was so impressed with the calmness and maturity of the children.
I would like to express my gratitude to the extent the school supports the festival of Eid Ul Adha. Not only by allowing the children a day to celebrate with their families but also by celebrating these events in the school as well.
We are very happy with the school and our child’s progress.
The teachers are always looking out for the children and they are nice to the children.
Thank you so much, our child couldn’t be happier.
Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes are excellent. They are respectful, considerate and polite. Pupils are incredibly thoughtful and look after one another
I have full faith in Mrs Clarkson and her wonderful team. They have bent over backwards over the past year to make sure my daughter has an education and I know they will continue to do so. They are amazing and I am so great full for their support for my child throughout the lockdowns. They have exceeded my expectations as they always go the extra mile.
My child loves the school and enjoys her time here.
Pupils feel safe and cared
for in the school. Parents agree.
Pupils work hard to be positive role models and give support to others. They are
very proud of the work they do as restorative practitioners, play buddies and wellbeing ambassadors. This is a highly inclusive school.