EYFS

Welcome to Early Years at Barrington!

At Barrington School we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life and that that the most effective way to provide this is through planned, purposeful play, both outdoors and in.

 

Planned, purposeful play is the foundation of development and learning for young children. It is the way skills are developed and practised. It is essential for physical, intellectual, linguistic, emotional, and behavioural and social development. It is the process through which children can explore, investigate, recreate and come to understand their world.

 

We deliver learning for the Early Years Curriculum through purposeful play and learning experiences, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, which sets out statutory guidance on the standards that schools and childcare providers must meet for the learning, development and care of children under 5.


The EYFS programme of study covers:


• Communication and Language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.


• Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.


• Personal, Social and Emotional development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.


• Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.


• Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.


• Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.


• Expressive Arts and Design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

Our governor with responsibility for EYFS is Rev. Felicity Couch.

 

What is dough disco?

Dough disco involves moulding play dough in time to music and performing different actions such as rolling it into a ball, flattening it, putting each individual finger into the dough, rolling it into a sausage and squeezing it.
How can you help at home?

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.

Many parents find that knowing what to expect when their child reaches a particular age or stage is a great help. The booklet ‘What to Expect When’ provides a clear guide to parents and carers.

In addition, you can help your child in many ways:

• Talk to them and answer their many questions!
• Enjoy sharing a variety of books together
• Encourage your child to talk about the pictures and tell you the stories in their books
• Let them see you enjoying reading - sit and read a book, magazine or newspaper in their company
• Sing songs and nursery rhymes
• Encourage your child to draw and write with a variety of materials
• Let your child use catalogues, cards or leaflets to cut out, paste, colour and paint

Our aim is for both you and your child to have a happy and confident beginning to their school life at Barrington Primary - it would be most helpful if your child can:
• Dress and undress for PE sessions
• Take off and put on shoes independently
• Use the toilet independently

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Clair Hayes.
A copy of our Early Years Policy can be found on the policies page of the school website.