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Powell's School Church of England (VA) Primary School

Early Years Curriculum

Welcome to Reception

At Powell’s we have an invaluable job of encouraging and embedding a love of learning that supports the children’s journey across the school. 

We endeavour to provide a broad and balanced curriculum that is based on real-life experiences, involves the children and most importantly, is planned through careful assessment of their own needs and interests. There are plenty of opportunities for creativity, problem solving and developing independence all of which are designed to engage and enthuse our children.

In Reception, we aim for all pupils to become unique individuals who form positive relationships with adults and peers. Through a balance of child- initiated play and adult led learning, children become independent, curious learners who explore and ask meaningful questions.

At Powell’s we organise a range of experiences and opportunities which give our children chance to make decisions and choices, work individually or in groups, and explore the learning environment. There is provision both inside and outside and play can ‘free-flow’ between both. We also use our extensive grounds and local area to enhance the learning experiences regularly. Children are encouraged to communicate and talk about their learning and develop independence and self-regulation.  

We carefully plan our enhanced provision activities and focussed lessons to ensure children are given varied and frequent opportunities to achieve their full potential.

Our Early Years curriculum is rooted in high quality texts so that our children develop a love of reading whilst being immersed in vocabulary to aid their language development.

 

What do children learn in Reception?

We know that children experience learning in different ways and develop at different rates, and we use the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ to guide the set up of classroom provision and interactions. The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:

Playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things and ‘have a go’.

Active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements.

Creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

The learning experiences within our Early Years environment are driven by the seven areas of learning and development of EYFS framework and Development Matters. These areas are split into three prime areas and four specific areas.

 

The Prime areas comprise:

  • - Communication and language
  • - Physical development
  • - Personal, social, and emotional development

 

The Specific areas comprise:

  • - Literacy
  • - Mathematics
  • - Understanding the world
  • - Expressive arts and design

 

Long Term Plan