Our Reception class is an integral part of Lower School, following a broad and balanced curriculum across the domains of knowledge and experience set out in the EYFS framework. Pupils’ learning is planned so that they are able to make progress in all aspects of learning and achieve the early learning goals at a good level of development. A key aim is for each pupil to develop positive relationships with others, recognising that each person is unique and ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’. We provide many opportunities for spiritual and moral development in community by focusing attention on ‘loving our neighbours as ourselves’. We want our Reception children to widen and deepen their knowledge, understanding and curiosity about the world; adding to a sense of awe and wonder. We encourage independence in learning and seek to enhance decision-making and reasoning skills.

• There are seven domains of learning and development that shape educational programmes in any EYFS setting. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These are communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. These three prime areas are strengthened and applied through literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive arts and design.
• In each of these areas we also focus on God’s Big Story, drawing out God’s ideas for each subject area, with key memory verses, worship songs and characteristics of God to explore along with memorable experiences.
• All learning opportunities are planned and organised into themes and topics which are of interest to children. The day is planned so that a mixture of teacher-led/child-led and teacher-initiated/ childinitiated learning opportunities are available to all children. In addition, all children benefit from small group foci and adults lead or guide learning through their conversational interaction with the children.
• EYFS children (Reception) are taught mainly within one classroom. Provision is made for all children to access all areas of the EYFS curriculum both indoors and outdoors including opportunities to use our outdoor classroom and wider school grounds. As an integral part of the school, our EYFS children have access to other parts of the school to provide additional learning environments, including the school hall for indoor PE lessons.
• A range of teaching and learning strategies are used to enable all children to develop their capacity to adapt and change to new situations, to build their resilience at persevering in solo, paired and group tasks, to interact at different levels with different ages/ abilities of people for a wide range of purposes, and to widen and deepen their ability to show respect and tolerance towards others who are different to them.