Foundation Stage
Halstead St Andrew's Early Years Foundation Stage consists of Nursery, Rising Reception and Reception classes. Here, we nurture and encourage all our children to develop a love of school that will form a firm foundation for their future happiness and success. Both Ofsted and the Independent Schools Inspectorate have rated our Early Years as “Outstanding”.
A dedicated, highly qualified and caring team of specialist early years teachers, with an in depth knowledge of how young children learn, guide the children’s learning.
We are acutely aware that pupils enter the foundation stage at a variety of stages both in maturity and academic ability. Children learn in different ways and progression in their learning happens at their own pace. We cater for children’s individual needs within each area of the curriculum, building on their existing understanding and experiences.
Providing a broad and balanced curriculum across the three Prime and four Specific areas of learning as defined by the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage, we also add that little extra ingredient that is special to our school. Teaching and learning is lively and stimulating, much of it outdoors, with a mixture of self-initiated experiences and adult planned instructions.
Research has shown that children achieve at their highest level when there is a balance of child initiated and teacher directed activities and we strongly believe that we have this balance right.
We place a great emphasis on Literacy and Numeracy right from the start whilst still ensuring that our children have the opportunity to be creative and imaginative thinkers and explorers.
Children benefit from bright and colourful purpose-built classrooms. The extensive resources are presented imaginatively to motivate children’s interests and learning opportunities both inside and outside.
Motivating Childrens Interests
Nursery
Our Nursery is a very happy, vibrant place where children feel secure and gain independence. Every day there are wonderful things to do and to learn. Nursery promotes enquiring minds and equips children with the skills, knowledge and positive attitudes that are all key to their future success. Specialist lessons in PE, outdoor learning, music and drama, enhance the children experiences.
Rising Reception
Children develop their early phonics and numeracy skills in fun and lively ways so that they are ideally prepared for transition into their Reception class. Specialist lessons in PE, outdoor learning, music and drama, enhance the children experiences. Nursery
Our Nursery is a very happy, vibrant place where children feel secure and gain independence. Every day there are wonderful things to do and to learn. Nursery promotes enquiring minds and equips children with the skills, knowledge and positive attitudes that are all key to their future success. Specialist lessons in PE, outdoor learning, music and drama, enhance the children experiences.
Reception
Children have many opportunities to experiment, discover, understand and develop as they relish learning to read, write and understand numbers. Children continue to develop good relationships and respect for others. The Reception teachers build on and extend the work already done in the Nursery and Rising Reception. They continue to enhance their literacy and numeracy skills in fun practical ways. Children’s artistic and creative abilities are further enhanced by the provision of specialist teachers in music, French, PE, outdoor learning and dance.
Throughout the school year our children have the opportunity to take part in a range of special events including meeting visiting speakers, outings, charity days, theme weeks and sports day.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is just the beginning of a child’s Learning Journey at Halstead St Andrew’s. This level of care and commitment is maintained throughout the school.
The transitions between our Foundation Stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 are well planned for and sensitively managed so that our children always move smoothly on to their next stage in learning.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is just the beginning of a child’s Learning Journey with Halstead St Andrew’s.