Welcome to Class 1 

Your child’s first experience in school is very important.  Here at Eastnor, we recognise that settling into school is a big step for your child and we endeavour to make it a very happy and enjoyable transition.  Our aim is to make school an exciting, stimulating and rewarding environment for your child to discover, learn and play in a wide range of experiences.  It is very important to us that home and school work together in developing an effective partnership. 

What does the EYFS look like at Eastnor Parochial Primary School? 

We know play is a vital part of learning. So through planned play, and carefully considered enhancement opportunities in different areas of learning, our children explore and develop their learning experiences, which help them to make sense of the world. They practise and build up ideas and learn how to control themselves, take responsibility for their actions and understand the need for rules. We give them the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. We support and encourage our pupils to communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems. We provide a safe and nurturing environment that promotes and encourages our pupils to express themselves freely and share any fears they may have with confidence and allows them to make any mistakes in a controlled and safe way. 

Our environment is specifically set up to provide children with access to a range of free choice learning opportunities which are initiated from their individual interests.  We always ensure children have time to explore a range of aspects of learning and development: gross and fine motor; mark making (early writing); maths; creative, reading for pleasure; communication; role play; construction; social interaction to name a few.  Whilst children have free choice of activities, staff will intervene when needed to move learning forward.  Key learning points are modelled in whole class teaching sessions or scaffolded through group work or with individuals.

What will I see when I visit class 1?

• Children learning through playing and exploring, being active, and through creating and thinking critically in the indoors and outside areas. 
• Happy and engaged learners. 
• Children accessing wide range of play-based activities independently. 
• Adult-led activities ensure that children access all areas of the curriculum and that focus on the development of basic skills, knowledge and understanding. 
• Paired/group work. 
• A range of different learning opportunities that are carefully planned to support children’s development in all areas of learning including practically and use of technology. 
• Engagement and perseverance. 
• Self-motivated children. 
• Children talking about, sharing and reflecting on their learning.
• Daily phonics and maths sessions.

We also have clear ‘checkpoints’ that we assess children against throughout the year.  These are shared with parents and are used in school to regularly assess children’s progress and to implement a support program for children who are not yet meeting the checkpoints at the required times.

We recognise parents as the key to enabling children to feel settled in school, and to make the best possible progress.  We work hard to offer parents a range of opportunities to come in to school, to speak to their class teacher about all of the fantastic things they have accomplished and also what their next steps will be.  We use Class Dojo to celebrate each child’s achievements and to be able to involve parents in their child’s learning journey.

What are the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage? 

• Allowing your child to develop as a unique child.
• Allowing your child to develop positive relationships.
• Allowing your child to learn within enabling environments.
• Allowing your child to experience opportunities that will enable them to learn and develop.

These principles are delivered through seven areas of learning. Three are considered ‘prime’ areas – these are Physical Development, Communication and Language, and Personal, Social, and Emotional development. The four specific areas, through which the prime areas are developed, are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design. Each of these areas of learning hold equal importance and are all interconnected.  The curriculum is delivered through continuous provision and small group activities designed to specifically target key areas of learning.  We have a clear emphasis on offering exciting learning opportunities (both indoors and outdoors) that extend children's vocabulary, and enables them to make connections across their learning.

What are the characteristics of effective learning?

Playing and exploring: - Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’. Children who actively participate in their own play develop a larger store of information and experiences to draw on which positively supports their learning. 

Active learning: - Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties. They are proud of their own achievements. For children to develop into self-regulating, lifelong learners they are required to take ownership, accept challenges and learn persistence. 

Creating and thinking critically: - Children develop their own ideas and make links between these ideas. They think flexibly and rationally, drawing on previous experiences which help them to solve problems and reach conclusions.

Find out more about Phonics and Early Reading at Eastnor here

Please follow the link to the Class 1 page

Guidance for Parents