At St Mary’s Hampton, our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is designed to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child can thrive and develop a love for learning. We aim to create a strong foundation for future education by focusing on the whole child, ensuring that they are happy, confident, and ready for the next steps in their learning journey.
Our Approach
We follow the EYFS Framework, which sets standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to five years old. Our curriculum is carefully planned around the seven areas of learning to ensure a broad, balanced, and engaging experience for every child. We recognise that children learn best through play and first-hand experiences, and we provide opportunities for both child-initiated and adult-led activities.
The Seven Areas of Learning
Prime Areas
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development: We support children in developing positive relationships, building self-confidence, and managing feelings and behaviors. Our nurturing environment helps children to become resilient and independent learners.
- Communication and Language: We provide a language-rich environment where children can develop their speaking, listening, and understanding skills. Through storytelling, singing, and conversation, we encourage a love of language.
- Physical Development: We offer activities that promote both fine and gross motor skills, from using pencils and scissors to running, jumping, and climbing. We also teach children about the importance of health, self-care, and physical activity.
Specific Areas:
Literacy: We foster a love of reading through storytelling, rhymes, and Little Wandle sessions. Children are encouraged to explore mark-making and early writing, developing the skills they need for reading and writing.
- Mathematics: Through practical activities, play, and exploration, we introduce children to numbers, counting, shape, space, and measurement. We aim to build a strong foundation for mathematical understanding.
- Understanding the World: We help children make sense of the world around them by exploring nature, technology, people, and communities. Our curriculum includes activities that celebrate diversity and cultural awareness.
- Expressive Arts and Design: Children have the opportunity to express themselves through art, music, dance, role-play, and imaginative activities. We encourage creativity and originality in all aspects of learning.
Our Learning Environment
At St. Mary’s Hampton, we provide a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment, both indoors and outdoors, where children can explore, play, and learn. Our well-resourced classrooms and outdoor spaces are designed to support all areas of learning, encouraging children to follow their interests and develop new skills.
Partnership with Parents
We believe that parents are the first educators of their children, and we work closely with families to support each child’s learning journey. Regular communication, parent workshops, and home learning activities help to create a strong partnership between school and home.
Assessment and Progress
We use ongoing observational assessment called Tapestry, which helps us understand each child’s development and plan for their next steps. Our approach ensures that every child is supported and challenged appropriately, and progress is shared with parents through regular updates and meetings.
Transition to Year 1
As children approach the end of the EYFS, we ensure a smooth transition to Year 1 by gradually introducing more structured learning while still maintaining a play-based approach. This helps children feel confident and prepared for the next stage of their education.
At St. Mary’s, Hampton, our EYFS curriculum is dedicated to providing a happy, engaging, and supportive environment where every child can thrive, laying the groundwork for lifelong learning and success.
Early Reading
Little Wandle is a phonics program designed to support early reading development by providing a systematic and structured approach to teaching phonics. At St. Mary’s Hampton, we use Little Wandle to ensure that children build a solid foundation in reading through a consistent and engaging method. The program introduces children to sounds (phonemes) and their corresponding letters (graphemes) in a clear sequence, helping them to blend these sounds to read words fluently. It includes daily phonics sessions, interactive resources, and engaging reading books that match the children’s phonics knowledge. This structured approach allows children to practice and apply their phonics skills, building confidence and fluency as they progress through the program. By using Little Wandle, we aim to create a positive reading culture where all children develop the skills they need for a successful start in their reading journey.
Early Maths
At St. Mary’s Hampton, early maths is taught through a combination of play-based activities and structured learning opportunities, using the Power of Maths approach. This program is designed to help children develop a strong foundation in key mathematical concepts such as number recognition, counting, shapes, space, and measures. Children engage in hands-on experiences that make learning fun and meaningful, such as sorting objects, building with blocks, and exploring patterns. The Power of Maths approach emphasises practical exploration, problem-solving, and the use of visual resources to help children understand mathematical ideas. By providing a variety of interactive and engaging activities, we aim to foster a positive attitude towards maths, ensuring children develop confidence and enthusiasm for learning about numbers and patterns.