Welcome to our Foundation Unit
In our well-resourced Foundation Stage Unit, children have the opportunity to learn through play and practical activities, with free-flow access to indoors and outdoors.
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum which covers seven areas of learning. It is a play-based curriculum, following a child-initiated structure, where the children learn through direct experience, investigation and exploration. We also teach early reading and writing through our systematic approach to phonics (using the Essential Letters and Sounds phonics scheme) ensuring that early reading and writing skills are developed sequentially and with robust and consistent teaching.
The unit provides an attractive, stimulating, well organised and interactive environment for children aged 3-5. Our outdoor area has varied and open-ended resources offering the children the opportunity to initiate and take part in games and activities which encourage them to engage in personal interactions, conversations and negotiation.
It is our aim in the unit to foster independence and confidence in our children, who are happy in their play and learning. All children are encouraged to develop emotionally, physically and intellectually through a variety of well-structured provision and adult-led focused activity sessions.
As part of the journey through Foundation, children learn through exciting and engaging topics which link to their interests including: Marvellous Me, Winter, Christmas, Construction, People Who Help Us, Traditional Tales, Down at the Bottom of the Garden and All Around the World. All our activities are differentiated and careful consideration is given to provide challenge and achieve the next step in the children’s learning and development.
As a unit we know that the children’s learning begins at home and we strive to work with parents and carers to continue the learning journey, working together to consolidate their child’s learning through play. We encourage parents and carers to share the children’s learning achievements at home via our online platform ‘Seesaw’. Parents and carers are invited into the unit every half term for ‘Breakfast with Books’, as well as assemblies and the annual Nativity. Parents and carers are regularly invited to speak to staff about their child’s progress. We feel this open-door policy to parents is important to keep strong ties between school and home.
The unit consists of both Upper and Lower Foundation children (Reception and Nursery). Lower Foundation children begin in the term after their third birthday. We offer flexible sessions for both 15 and 30-hour options.
