Early Years Foundation Stage
Intent
At Wheatfield Primary School and Nursery, we believe that every child deserves the very best start in life. We provide a safe, nurturing and ambitious environment where children feel valued, secure and inspired to learn. Through positive relationships, high expectations and a rich curriculum, we develop confident, resilient and independent learners who are ready for the next stage of their education and beyond.
Our curriculum is carefully designed to build the knowledge, skills and vocabulary children need to thrive, while recognising that every child is unique and develops at their own pace. We place equal importance on children's academic achievement, emotional wellbeing and personal development because we know that happy, secure children are motivated and successful learners. Communication and language development, self-regulation, physical development and early literacy are at the heart of our provision, providing the foundations for future learning.
We are committed to ensuring that every child, regardless of their starting point, background or additional needs, has access to a broad, inclusive and engaging curriculum. Through meaningful experiences, high-quality interactions and strong partnerships with families, we aim to develop children who are curious, creative and confident; children who can think independently, solve problems, take risks in their learning and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Implementation
Our curriculum is delivered through a carefully planned balance of child-initiated play, adult-guided learning and direct teaching. Learning is built around the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and is designed to develop children's knowledge, skills and understanding across all seven areas of learning. Teaching is informed by ongoing assessment, ensuring that learning experiences meet children's individual needs, build on prior knowledge and support sustained progress.
At Wheatfield, learning is underpinned by the four EYFS guiding principles and the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Through our enabling indoor and outdoor environments, children are encouraged to play, explore, investigate, create and think critically. Carefully planned continuous and enhanced provision promotes independence, language development, problem-solving and collaboration while allowing practitioners to build learning around children's interests and next steps.
High-quality interactions are at the heart of our practice. Staff use modelling, questioning, explicit vocabulary instruction and responsive teaching to support children's thinking and extend their learning. A strong emphasis is placed on communication and language development, self-regulation and executive functioning, recognising their importance in preparing children for future success.
Early reading, writing and mathematics are prioritised. We teach Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised with fidelity, provide a progressive writing curriculum and deliver a carefully sequenced mathematics curriculum that develops children's deep understanding of number and mathematical concepts. Opportunities to apply and revisit learning are woven throughout the provision to support fluency, mastery and confidence.
Inclusion is central to our provision. Through ongoing assessment, early identification and targeted support, we ensure that every child can access the curriculum and achieve success. Strong partnerships with parents and carers, together with effective transition arrangements, enable us to work collaboratively to support every child's learning, wellbeing and development.
Impact
Children leave Wheatfield's Early Years as confident, capable and enthusiastic learners who are ready for the challenges of Key Stage 1. They have developed the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for continued success and have secure foundations in communication and language, early reading, writing and mathematics.
Our children demonstrate the Characteristics of Effective Learning by showing curiosity, independence, resilience and creativity. They are able to concentrate, solve problems, collaborate with others, regulate their emotions and confidently communicate their ideas. They understand how to learn, persevere when faced with challenge and take pride in their achievements.
Children make strong progress from their starting points because teaching is responsive, inclusive and ambitious. They develop a sense of belonging, positive relationships and a love of learning that supports their future success. As a result, pupils transition into Year 1 as confident individuals who are well prepared academically, socially and emotionally for the next stage of their educational journey.
