At Blackgates Primary Academy we are committed to providing a high quality Early Years education which gives children a secure and confident start to their school life and nurtures a lifelong love of learning. We offer the children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. All children begin school with a variety of experiences and learning. It is the privilege of the Early Years practitioners to build upon that prior learning and experience. This is done through a holistic approach to learning, ensuring that parents, carers, and teachers work effectively together to support all children's learning and development. We aim to ensure there are regular opportunities for children to participate in activities that provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to understand how to be responsible, respectful, active citizens who contribute positively to society and enrich Cultural Capital. Children acquire a wide vocabulary and secure knowledge of phonics through focused teaching.
Children have access to a stimulating and inspiring indoor and outdoor learning environment with resources chose to meet the children’s needs and promote learning. We encourage confidence, independence and a desire to learn. Children can learn and grow in a safe and secure environment through well planned, purposeful play. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others.
Parent Partnership
At Blackgates parents have the opportunity to work closely with our Early Years practitioners to support children’s transition into the setting. We would like parents to feel secure in the knowledge that their child is well cared for and happy at school.
Our parents are welcomed and actively encouraged to be involved in their children’s learning in school and to share learning experiences through tapestry observations and parent workshops. We recognise that parents are the first educators in children’s lives and value contributions to judgements about children’s development. We use this information to support our assessments and share information about what children need to do next to develop and thrive.
What is it like in the Early Years on a day to day basis?
Every day, we provide opportunities for children to come together to share their experiences and have fun. Our children are happy, proud and feel secure knowing that we are proud of their achievements.
Learning Environment
Our learning environment facilitates child-initiated play and provides children with carefully planned opportunities which allow children to explore, create and learn through exciting, stimulating, interactive and accessible resources.
Role of our Early Years practitioners and teachers
We are a close team with play-based child centred learning at the heart of our practice. We aim to communicate and work cooperatively with parents and carers to support our children’s development.
Early Years Foundation Stage
The EYFS is a very important stage in a child’s life as it helps prepare for school ‘readiness’ as well as preparing them for their future learning and successes. Children’s early years experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs. Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences before the age of five will have a major impact on their future life chances.
The EYFS framework
Children will learn skills, acquire new knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
- Communication and language;
- Physical development; and
- Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are those most essential for a child’s healthy development and future learning.
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the world; and
- Expressive arts and design.
All 7 areas of learning are used to plan children’s learning and activities.
This does not mean that all your child's learning is divided up into specific areas. One experience may provide a child with opportunities to develop a number of skills and concepts across several areas of learning.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. It is very important that they develop social skills, such as turn-taking, sharing and independence, which help them greatly in the next stages of their learning.
