As a church school we believe that every person, every child and every adult is unique and special with God given gifts and talents which is our job to nurture and cherish.

1. Introduction

1. 1. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to children from birth to the end of the Reception year. The children at our school begin attending full time at the start of the Autumn term. This policy follows the curriculum guidelines from the EYFS, Birth to Five Matters 2026. Where this policy refers to Early Years children, these are our pupils in the Reception Year.

1. 2. At St. Andrew’s we provide quality first teaching and care in the Foundation Stage. We strive to ensure all our children feel secure, valued and happy. We develop an inclusive, challenging learning environment and have high expectations of all to enable all children to know more, remember more and do more. We build calm, respectful relationships and aim to provide positive role models, working in partnerships with parents. Underpinning our curriculum provision is the belief that education should be enjoyable and that children will flourish in an atmosphere of success and shared achievements. We plan learning experiences that are relevant, stimulating and fun. We also promote and value child-led learning. 

2. Aims

1. 1. The curriculum of the foundation stage underpins all future learning by promoting and developing:
      • Personal, Social and Emotional well-being
      • Positive attitudes and dispositions towards learning
      • Social skills
      • Attention skills and persistence
      • Language and Communication skills
      • Reading and Writing
      • Mathematics skills
      • Knowledge and Understanding of the World
      • Physical development
      • Creative development
      • Life skills
      • Computing skills