EYFS

At Kings Norton we believe that children’s first experience of school should be happy, positive and fun. We provide all children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need through a broad and balanced curriculum. We encourage children to be confident, curious and independent learners in order to succeed throughout their school journey.  

Our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is designed to support all children to progress from their individual starting points by building their confidence and self-belief, and allowing them to take risks and overcome challenges they may face. Through a language-rich environment we maximise opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and learning experiences, as well as promoting the unique child by offering extended periods of play and sustained thinking following children’s interests and ideas. We value imagination and creativity, and seek to create a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning through continuous indoor and outdoor provision, alongside trips, visits and regular forest school sessions.  

The EYFS is organised into seven areas of learning and development. The Prime Areas are Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The Specific Areas are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the Word and Expressive Arts and Design.  

Each area of learning and development is implemented through planned purposeful play using a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities. Practitioners respond to each child’s emerging needs and interests, and guide their development through warm, positive interactions.  

The weekly timetable is organised to allow daily English, Phonics and Maths teaching sessions around high-quality Continuous Provision. Reading is at the heart of our curriculum, and we nurture a love of reading through a range of good quality texts including fiction, non-fiction, rhymes and poems. We follow the Little Wandle Phonics programme to ensure children become independent readers. At Kings Norton we follow the White Rose approach to maths which embeds mathematical thinking and talk to develop the understanding of number, shape, measure and spatial thinking.  

Our Continuous Provision ensures children progress and develop independence and problem-solving skills, while providing opportunities for challenge.  

Children develop their characteristics of learning and are able to apply their knowledge to a range of situations making links and explaining their ideas and understanding. Children are confident to take risks and can think creatively and solve problems alongside others. From their own starting points, children will make progress academically, emotionally and socially, developing a sense of themselves so that they are prepared for Key Stage 1.