Early Years Foundation Stage

1. Welcome to Millfield Early Years Foundation Stage Reception 2014-2015

2. Early Years Team for 2014-2015 Nursery Class Teacher: Mrs. K. Ehlen Nursery Teaching Assistant: Mrs. S. Sheldon Reception Class Teacher: Miss. K. Storer Reception Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs. L. Yates Reception Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs. L. Dolman Early Years Intervention Teaching Assistant: Mrs. K. Hawkins Early Years HLTA: Mrs. L. Brandrick Swimming Teacher: Mrs. S. Anderson Early Years Coordinator: Mrs. E. Buck Children in Reception meet many different adults during their day, including the Nursery and Woodland Wednesday team and other teachers that deliver RML lessons and assemblies.

3. Every Child Matters is a government programme that we follow here at Millfield. We aim to give each and every child the support they need to: * be healthy * stay safe * enjoy and achieve * make a positive contribution * achieve economic well-being.

4. In September 2012 the Early Years guidance changed. To achieve these goals, the children's learning, development and care is centred and assessed around 7 areas of learning. These are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development Physical Development Communication and Language Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design We assess against lots of different objectives which together make up “Ages and Stages”

5. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Children need to develop an interest and excitement in their own learning. It is important for them to make good working relationships with others and to understand and respect their own needs, views, cultures and beliefs and those of others. Together the children will develop independence and learn what is right and wrong. 1. Making relationships 2. Self-confidence and self-awareness 3. Managing feelings and behaviour When planned and implemented well, learning outside the classroom contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils' personal, social and emotional development.' Ofsted

6. Physical Development Children need to develop an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food. They need to be active to improve their skills of coordination, control, movement and manipulation. **This year we will not be asking the children to get changed into a PE kit as we feel that the outdoor activities available to the children will provide them with the opportunities they need to handle small and large equipment; become aware of the space around them; and make healthy choices. However, it would be helpful for your child if you could choose sensible shoes that they find easy to take off and put on. Obviously, jewellery isn’t suitable for any activities in the Foundation Stage. Don’t be surprised if your child comes home tired...they will have worked hard at school. They will have taken part in lots of fun activities so don’t forget to talk to them about what has happened at school. Swimming Your child will begin swimming in Reception on Monday mornings. Details will be sent home at the beginning of term in September. • Moving and handling • 2. Health and self-care

7. Communication and Language As the children interact with their friends and other adults, their listening skills will develop and their vocabulary will grow as they hear songs, stories, poems and rhymes. Through stories and books they begin to learn that print carries meaning and their random marks, lines and drawings will begin to form the basis of recognisable letters, which, in turn will allow them to write for many different purposes. The outdoor area will give our children a huge ‘classroom’ in which to be noisy, messy and inquisitive. Their balance, coordination and fine motor control can be developed outside, all of which are skills that they need to learn to write. • Listening and attention • Understanding • Speaking

8. Literacy 1. Reading 2. Writing This is where RML kicks in. The children learn how to make the pure sounds that together build up words. Mrs. Davies is the RML coordinator at Millfield. She assesses children regularly and they then get put into ability based groups regardless of age.

9. Mathematics Children’s mathematical development occurs as they seek patterns, make connections and recognise relationships through finding out about and working with numbers and counting, with sorting and matching and with shape, space and measures. • Numbers • Shape, space and measure Children learn that numbers can be added together and taken away while they are playing and sharing. Children investigating shapes and measures. Together they can ask questions and solve problems.

10. Understanding the World Children need to develop the knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world around them. The children in Reception and Nursery will be able to choose from activities that let them discover creatures, investigate plants and animals in their natural habitats, use tools safely, handle different materials, and encounter different cultures. Free Flow is a great experience for the children. They initiate their own learning and choose whether ... ...to investigate on their own ...to explore with an adult ...to learn with a group of friends There will still be rules and routines everyday for the children to become familiar with and although the children will be able to choose some activities there will also be adult-led activities. • People and communities • The world • Technology

11. Expressive Arts and Design Inside or out, activities will allow children to explore and play. They will be encouraged to share their thoughts, creativity, ideas and feelings through art, music, movement, dance, imaginative and role-play activities, mathematics and design technology. 1.Exploring and using media and materials 2. Being imaginative **As you can see the weather is not a barrier to learning. We have waterproof coats and wellies for everyone, however, if your child keeps a spare set of clothes at school, this will allow them to get changed and stay comfortable should they get wet, dirty or have an accident. **Please don’t forget to put your child’s name in all items of clothing.

12. ASSESSMENT In both Nursery and Reception evidence of children’s achievements are collected everyday through conversation and photographs. Nursery and Reception – Ages and Stages At times throughout the year their levels are entered onto Target Tracker For those children that do not meet appropriate expectations intervention is put into place immediately. Topics are then planned to allow children to achieve.

13. The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework says that, ‘Where possible, the indoor and outdoor environments should be linked 'so that children can move freely between them' The introduction of Free Flow to our timetable has been very successful! There are times during the day when the children in Nursery and Reception are able to learn together. Each child can choose where and how their learning is going to take place. The same areas of learning are set up both inside the Nursery and Reception rooms and outside. We have a very large, well resourced outdoor area where children can pond dip, climb, run, play musical instruments, build sandcastles, read stories and investigate the world around them.

14. Free Flow has had a very positive impact on all of the areas of learning: PSE: improves social skills such as playing alongside each other - being fair, taking turns and problem solving. Encourages children to take on responsibilities such as tidying up and looking after resources. CLL: encourages children to mark make using different materials and in different ways. Their language develops as they begin to use vocabulary associated with outdoor learning. PSRN: plenty opportunities for calculating and measuring outdoors. KUW: investigations and explorations are endless and very exciting!! Physical: allows opportunities to move confidently around large play equipment and the natural environment. Creative: Their imaginations are fired up and limitless outdoors - they can run around and shout freely outside. ***Resources for each area of learning are stored in sheds on the playground that children have free access to. *** Parents are encouraged to send a change of clothes to allow freedom of play.

15. Change of clothes labelled and kept at school It is an absolute must for children to have a clean change of clothes at school

16. Snack Children have free milk and fruit everyday. We have a “rolling snack café” system where children have fruit and milk available to them throughout the free flow hour in the morning.

17. Book Bags and Homework Every child is given a book bag with a reading book, a record card and parent/carer notebook. Children can change their books everyday if they wish. If you could sign the record card to say the book has been read and you would like to change it, then the children choose their own book. They may have already taken this book home two or three times before. The parent/carers notebook is for you to write any conversations down that you may have with your child. This could be about a trip you had to the supermarket, something you watched together on TV or when relatives visited. Homework is set once a week and generally consists of one piece of work (Usually RML).

18. Discipline Traffic light system Children in Reception take part in the whole school traffic light behaviour policy. All children start each half term on green. If they have to be asked 3 times to change their behaviour they are moved on to ‘amber’. Children that remain on green for the whole of the half term get entered into the Good to be Green raffle and can win a prize to celebrate their good behaviour. House points Children that show kindness to others and try their very best are rewarded with house points throughout the year. 10=bronze 20=silver 30=gold 40=platinum

19. Subs 50p weekly Weekly subs of 50p are collected at school. This helps us to buy tissues, spare underwear, suntan cream, etc. Items that make coming to school a little more comfortable for all.

20. How we begin the year Half day sessions from Thursday 4th September until Friday 19th September Morning session 8.45am – 11.30am Infant playground Children to independently hang coats, etc Collect at 11.30am main school doors Afternoon session 12.30pm – 3.15pm Collected from main school doors at 12.30pm by member of team Parents/carers to collect from infant playground

21. Half day experiences • Get used to Reception routines and environment • Small groups to explore indoor environment • Children to get to know adults and vice versa • Adults to initially assess children’s needs and abilities • Children not to feel overwhelmed or tired

22. From Monday 22nd September all children will stay all day from 8.45am until 3.15pm. Walk into school from infant playground independently Health and safety Independence Pass concerns or messages to adult on door or office.

23. Thank you. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions. Millfield Primary School 01543 452513