Take a look at the Nursery and Reception class pages!

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Nursery and Reception at Arundale Primary School

At Arundale Primary School, we want our children to be happy, confident, active and independent learners.

We believe that every child deserves the very best start in life. Our Early Years Unit provides a warm, nurturing and exciting environment where children feel safe, valued and inspired to learn. Through high-quality teaching, purposeful play and strong relationships, we support every child to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive.

Our Nursery and Reception children learn together within a carefully planned Early Years environment that promotes curiosity, independence and a love of learning.

Understanding the First 1,000 Days and Beyond

You may hear health and education professionals talk about the "first 1,000 days" of a child's life. This refers to the period from pregnancy until around a child's second birthday and is widely recognised as a crucial stage in a child's development.

During this time, children develop the foundations for:

• communication and language
• emotional wellbeing
• physical development
• learning and thinking
• building secure relationships

Positive experiences, loving relationships and opportunities to play and explore help children develop the strong foundations they need for future success.

At Arundale Primary, children join our Early Years Unit from the term after their third birthday. By this point, they begin what is often called the "next 1,000 days" – a particularly important period between the ages of 3 and 5 when children rapidly develop the skills, knowledge and confidence needed for school and beyond.

Our role is to build upon the foundations established in the first 1,000 days and ensure every child is ready to flourish.

The Next 1,000 Days at Arundale

The years between ages 3 and 5 are a remarkable time of growth and development.

Children learn how to:

• communicate effectively
• build friendships
• manage their emotions
• become increasingly independent
• solve problems and think creatively
• develop early reading, writing and mathematical understanding

Our curriculum is designed to support every aspect of children's development, ensuring they are well prepared for Year 1 and lifelong learning.

What This Looks Like in Our Early Years Unit

Nursery – Building Strong Foundations

Nursery is often a child's first experience of school. Our priority is to help children feel happy, secure and excited about learning.

In Nursery, children:

• learn through high-quality play and exploration
• develop confidence and independence
• build communication and language skills through stories, songs and conversations
• begin to form friendships and learn how to play cooperatively
• establish routines and develop self-care skills
• explore a rich learning environment designed around their interests and needs

Our skilled staff carefully support children's development through meaningful interactions, modelling language and encouraging curiosity.

We want every child to develop a strong sense of belonging and a positive attitude towards learning.

Reception – Preparing for Future Success

In Reception, children continue to learn through play whilst developing the knowledge and skills they need for the next stage of education.

In Reception, children:

• learn to read through daily Read Write Inc. Phonics sessions
• develop early writing skills through meaningful experiences
• build confidence and fluency in mathematics
• apply their learning independently through continuous provision
• develop resilience, perseverance and problem-solving skills
• become increasingly independent learners

Our Reception curriculum provides a balance of child-led exploration and carefully planned teaching to ensure all children make strong progress.

By the end of Reception, children are well prepared for the transition into Year 1.

Our Learning Environment

Both our Nursery and Reception areas are organised into carefully planned learning spaces that encourage children to explore, discover and learn independently.

Children have access to a range of engaging areas including:

• Role Play
• Small World
• Reading and Storytelling
• Writing
• Mathematics
• Construction
• Creative Arts
• Sand and Water Exploration
• Investigation and Discovery
• Outdoor Learning

Resources are accessible and clearly organised so that children can make choices, develop independence and take ownership of their learning.

Learning Through Play

Play is at the heart of our Early Years curriculum.

Through play, children learn to:

• communicate and collaborate
• solve problems
• think creatively
• develop resilience
• explore new ideas
• apply their learning independently

Our experienced practitioners carefully plan opportunities that build children's knowledge and skills whilst following their interests and natural curiosity.

Communication and Language

Language development is central to everything we do.

We provide:

• daily story times
• songs, rhymes and poetry
• rich conversations
• vocabulary-rich learning experiences
• opportunities for children to explain their thinking

By developing strong communication skills, we help children become confident learners across all areas of the curriculum.

Reading at Arundale

Reading is at the heart of our curriculum.

We want every child to develop a lifelong love of books and stories.

Children take part in:

• daily Read Write Inc. Phonics lessons
• shared reading activities
• storytelling sessions
• singing and rhyme activities
• opportunities to develop comprehension and vocabulary

Children are provided with reading books that match their phonics knowledge and are encouraged to read regularly at home.

We value the partnership between school and families and know that reading together every day makes a significant difference to children's progress.

Outdoor Learning

Children have opportunities to learn outdoors every day.

Our outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom and provides opportunities for:

• physical development
• imaginative play
• investigation and exploration
• teamwork and collaboration
• problem solving
• developing resilience and confidence

Whatever the weather, children benefit from fresh air, movement and outdoor experiences that support their overall development.

Developing Independence and School Readiness

School readiness is about much more than reading and writing.

Throughout Nursery and Reception, we support children to:

• follow routines and instructions
• manage their personal belongings
• develop independence in toileting and self-care
• take responsibility for their learning
• regulate their emotions
• work and play cooperatively with others
• persevere when faced with challenges

These skills help children make a successful transition into Year 1 and beyond.

Working in Partnership with Parents

Parents and carers are a child's first and most important educators.

We believe that children achieve the best outcomes when home and school work together. We value strong partnerships with families and regularly share information about children's learning, development and wellbeing.

We encourage parents and carers to:

• read regularly with their child
• talk about learning at home
• share achievements and interests
• work with us to support their child's development

Together, we can ensure every child enjoys a happy, successful and confident start to school life.

Nursery Admissions

We offer:

• 15-hour funded Nursery places
• 30-hour funded Nursery places for eligible families
• Morning, afternoon and full-day provision

For further information about Nursery and Reception admissions, please visit our Admissions page or contact the school office to arrange a visit.

We would be delighted to welcome you to our Early Years Unit and show you what makes Arundale such a special place to learn and grow.

For more information about part-time and full-time Nursery places and Reception places, click the 'Admissions' link below.