Reception Curriculum and Learning

Children in Reception follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework. This sets out the standards for the development, learning and care of children from birth to five. It is important that all children are given the opportunity to experience the best possible start to their education.

In our Reception class, learning experiences of the highest quality are planned, considering children’s needs and their interests. Well-planned play is a key way in which children learn with enjoyment and challenge, both within the indoor and outdoor learning environments. The Foundation Stage prepares children for learning in Key Stage 1.

In Manor Way Nursery and the Reception Year, the curriculum is planned and resourced to take children’s learning forward. The curriculum for the Foundation Stage is designed to ignite children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and to build their capacity to learn, form relationships and flourish. The curriculum is planned in seven areas of learning and development; all areas are important and inter-connected.

There are three prime areas which are:

• Communication and Language Development
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

There are four specific areas through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. These specific areas are:

• Literacy Development
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

The children build up a Learning Journey showing some examples of their work and photographs of some of their other activities, which contribute to the teachers’ assessments of each child. At all times throughout the year parents are invited to contribute to, share and ask about their child’s Learning Journey.

EYFS Assessment

When children first enter Reception, their baseline entry is recorded within the first 4 weeks of starting. In order to get a fair baseline, the teachers use Development Matters 2014 along with parental questionnaires, work produced and observations to get a holistic view of the child.

Each term, the children are assessed again against the Development Matters document to ensure that progress has been made and that they are achieving their Age Related Expectations (ARE).