Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

At Ravenshead C of E Primary School, our Early Years Foundation Stage provides a nurturing, inclusive and stimulating environment where children feel safe, valued and excited to learn. Rooted in our school vision of ‘Taking Care’, we place a strong emphasis on building positive relationships, independence and a love of learning from the very start.

Children benefit from a carefully planned balance of adult-led learning and child-initiated play, enabling them to develop key skills, confidence and curiosity. Our creative Foundation Unit offers rich opportunities for exploration, problem-solving and imaginative play, supporting children to develop independence, resilience and self-regulation as they make choices, take risks and learn alongside their peers.

Early language and literacy development are a key priority. All children take part in a daily phonics lesson using Supersonic Phonics, ensuring a consistent and systematic approach to early reading. Alongside this, children have daily transcription opportunities, where they practice handwriting, spelling and letter formation in meaningful contexts. Weekly dictation opportunities further support children to apply their phonics knowledge, develop sentence structure and build confidence in writing.

Outdoor learning plays an important role in our EYFS curriculum. Children take part in weekly outdoor learning sessions in our woodland area, giving them opportunities to explore nature, develop curiosity and build resilience. In addition, our weekly ‘Friday Fun’ sessions provide dedicated time for children to play outdoors using a wide range of equipment, supporting the development of gross motor skills, coordination and physical confidence.

Learning is carefully sequenced and responsive to children’s needs, with staff using observation and assessment to plan next steps and provide timely support or challenge. Through purposeful play, outdoor learning and high-quality teaching, children leave EYFS as confident, independent learners with strong foundations in early reading and writing, physical development and the personal and social skills needed to thrive as they move into Key Stage 1.