Early Years
Children in the Nursery and Reception classes follow the guidelines for teaching and learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage. This includes the following guiding principles:
- every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured, children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
- children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers
- children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates
Our Early Years Vision and Values
At St Mary’s CE School, our Early Years provision is rooted in our Christian vision and values. We believe that every child is uniquely created and full of potential. Our Nursery and Reception classes provide a safe, nurturing and joyful environment where children are encouraged to develop their curiosity and independence.
Guided by our values of love, respect, peace, forgiveness, responsibility and faith, we support children to develop a love of learning, build strong foundations and experience a strong sense of belonging as part of our school family.
EYFS Curriculum Progression Grids
Characteristics of Effective Learning
Planning reflects how each child learns, as reflected in the Characteristics of Effective Learning:- Playing and Exploring
- Active Learning
- Creating and Thinking Critically
Click below to learn about our Early Years Curriculum Intent, Implementation and Impact:
Intent
Our intent in the Early Years is to provide a high-quality, inclusive education that gives every child the best possible start to their learning journey. We aim to:
- Create a nurturing, values-led environment where children feel safe, loved and respected
- Develop confident, resilient and independent learners
- Support children’s social, emotional, physical and academic development
- Foster curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning
- Build strong partnerships with parents and carers
Our curriculum is ambitious and designed to meet the needs of all children, recognising that children develop at different rates and in different ways.
Implementation
Children in Nursery and Reception follow the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. Learning is delivered through:
- A balance of child-initiated and adult-led activities
- High-quality interactions that extend language and thinking
- Play-based learning indoors and outdoors throughout the day
- Carefully planned learning experiences shaped by children’s interests and needs
Staff use ongoing observation and assessment to plan next steps and ensure learning is meaningful and responsive.
Impact
As a result of our Early Years provision, children:
- Are happy, confident and motivated to learn
- Develop strong communication, social and emotional skills
- Show increasing independence and resilience
- Make good progress from their starting points
- Are well prepared for the transition into Key Stage
Our children leave the Early Years with the foundations they need to continue their learning journey successfully and positively
7 Areas of Learning
At St Mary’s we take children's innate curiosity and interest as our starting point and develop their skills and knowledge across all 7 areas of the EYFS Curriculum, providing a rich learning enviroment with opportunities for each of the 7 areas planned inside and outside every day.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Children learn to articulate how they are feeling and manage their own emotions. They are encouraged to meet their needs independently and learn to play collaboratively. Promoting healthy eating and dental hygiene are a high priority for us.
Physical Development
Children’s balance and coordination skills are developed through obstacle courses and climbing equipment outside. The mud kitchens provide lots of practice in using utensils to strengthen hand grips and finger gyms inside allow children to improve their fine motor skills.
Communication and Language
Children are supported to focus and listen to adults, take part in lots of singing, learn nursery rhymes and retell stories. Adults model language and new vocabulary throughout the provision. Children who require extra help benefit from Talk Boost interventions.
Literacy
To develop a love of reading is a key focus of the school and in EYFS we know that starts with parents. Parents are invited to join us for Reading Fridays and children take story sacks and books home every week. Daily phonics sessions give children a strong foundation for reading and writing. Opportunities for mark making are evident everywhere.
Mathematics
Lots of concrete objects to count, number songs to sing and opportunities to measure and weigh. The children identify shapes in the environment and use resources to make 2D & 3D shapes of their own.
Understanding the World
Children’s own family life forms a starting point for a widening exploration of customs, festivals, seasonal change and the natural world. Trips and special visits are arranged to widen children’s experience of the world around them.
Expressive Arts and Design
Whether it is junk modelling or powder paints, children self-select what they need. Imaginative play is encouraged by inviting role play areas and small world set ups. Children use new vocabulary and act out their own ideas.
Naughty Bus
Nursery have been exploring all things to do with buses, after reading the wonderful 'Naughty Bus' story. They tapped their Oyster cards to get on the class bus, counted how many passengers were on the bus and watched the real buses travelling down Lewisham High Street!
Nursery Reading News!
Read our recent newsletter to learn about the launch of our 'Home Reading Journey'.
Nursery News - Home Reading Journey 
¡Noticias de guardería! Lanzamiento de nuestra “Viaje de Lectura en Casa”
Owl Babies in the Forest School
Nursery loved listening and retelling the story of the 3 baby owls who missed their Mummy. They were even more amazed when they discovered some owls nesting in the trees of the Forest School!
Reception lead our Worship
Reception class performed a wonderful retelling of 'The Three Billy Goats Gruff'. They designed and created props and masks and spoke clearly and confidently. Well done everyone!
Trip to the Horniman Museum
"We're going on a journey, a journey, a journey, we're going on a journey to see what we can find..."
We went to The Horniman Museum for a workshop all about animals that live in ponds, rivers and the sea! We stroked a caiman, touched shark teeth and saw lots of sea creatures in the aquarium! Thank you to the lovely staff at museum who made our trip so special.
Chinese New Year
Children in the Nursery learned so much: how to use chopsticks, how to dance like a dragon and how to make a lantern. There was plenty to talk about, including all the different animals of the Chinese zodiac.
Reception Class Soup
Inspired by Supertato, Reception class have been learning about different vegetables and recipes. After writing shopping lists and recipes, they learned how to use tools and equipment safely to prepare a delicious vegetable soup, which kept everyone warm on a cold and rainy day.
The cold never bothered us anyway!
The ice did not stop us from having fun in Reception. We got on our coats, hats and gloves and ventured outside! We found lots of ice and made a baby snowman. We made marks in the frost and watched as the ice melted in our hands.
"It's so cold!" - Orianni
"Look, the ice made the leaf frozen!" - Minhaz
"It's melting, my hands are warm!" - Precious
Vets Surgery
This term, Reception class have become vets! They are taking such good care of their patients. The children are delivering injections, putting on bandages, and booking appointments.
"This cat's leg is broken so we have to give it the injection." - Max
"What's wrong with the dog? Does he need medicine?" - Mithulaa
Hip Hip Hooray for Superworm
Reception class have been enjoying the story Superworm by Julia Donaldson. We enjoyed it so much that we made our own Superworm to decorate the classroom! We chanted his chant: Superworm is super long! Superworm is super strong! Watch him wiggle, see him squirm, hip, hip, hooray for Superworm!
Shiver Me Timbers!
Nursery have been discovering what exactly pirates do, as well as learning some pirate talk like 'Ooaar me hearties' and 'Yo ho ho'. They have gone on adventures in their pirate ship and have been looking for buried treasure.
