Welcome to our EYFS information page

(Early Years Foundation Stage)

If you would like to know more about our curriculum please visit our curriculum page. If you would like to know more about EYFS please click on our class page.

                Early Years Teachers 

                                                                   Hedgehogs                                           Owls 

                         Miss Holczimmer                                     Miss Podlasin 

Early Years Teaching Support Team

                            Mrs Benson                                     Mrs Stirk

Church:

Each Fermor class has their own class value which they lead a Church service on. We also meet for special services such as Christmas and Easter. Owls and Hedgehogs share the value of Forgiveness. On Church days we ask for parents and carers to drop their child off at All Saints Church at 8:45am. We will then register the children at Church. Parents and carers will then exit Church via the back. Our Year 6 buddies support with walking back to the school. 

If your child attends Breakfast Club on Church days, a member of the Early Years team will collect them directly from Breakfast Club and take them to Church. 

If it is a special service or your child's class service then you are more than welcome to watch the service.

Swimming:

Swimming will begin from Term 2. We will confirm classes and days towards the end of Term 1. All children will need the following for their swimming lessons:

• Swimming costume/shorts.
• Towel
• Swimming cap
•  Pool shoes (to walk to and from the pool). This could include, flip flops, crocs, jelly shoes etc.

Please ensure that this equipment is in a named bag. 

Forest School:

An email will be sent to confirm start date.

Forest School takes place in our attractive woodland area. Experiences include outdoor woodland games, craft in the natural environment and cooking over the fire. Play is recognised as an important part of Forest School and activities are based on the children's interests and unique way of learning.

This is an outdoor activity, so your child will need: Wellies, warm, waterproof clothing, spare socks and a coat. 

'Forest School is an inspirational process that offers children, young people and adults, regular opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands on learning experiences in a local woodland environment'

Forest Education Initiative (FEI)

The EYFS Curriculum 

The Early Years Foundation Stage aims to develop children to their full potential through play based learning. The areas of learning are divided into 7 areas of learning:

Prime Areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Communication and Language

Physical Development

Specific Areas:

Mathematics

Literacy

Understanding The world

Expressive Arts and Design

At Fermor, we provide a safe and stimulating environment. The teachers and TAs observe and assess learning to inform next steps. We see every child as an individual and plan exciting learning opportunities to meet each child's specific needs. Throughout the day, there are opportunities for adult led, adult-initiated and child-led activities. 

Discovery Time which is child-led learning is a key part of our day in Early Years, where the children explore their own interests and ideas, indoors and outdoors. During this time we focus on the 'Characteristics of Effective Learning', these are split into three key areas:

- Playing and Exploring 

- Active Learning 

- Creative and Critical Thinking 

We aim for all children to become active learners, who take ownership of their learning, through thinking about how they can challenge themselves in their play.

Parent Partnership

At Fermor we pride ourselves on our partnership with parents. We enjoy opportunities to invite parents in to share activities with us, swimming, forest school and for special events. 

Each week we will share key news from Early Years, this can be found on the class page of our website. Please also make sure you read our weekly whole school newsletter for key dates and information. 

Transition

At Fermor we feel that the transition from pre school to nursery is a big step for children (and parents). Therefore we provide supportive opportunities for the children to visit their new classroom and get to know the team through stay and play sessions, story times and nursery visits in term 6. Before children start in Reception, a home visit is offered to new parents, giving the opportunity to talk informally with the Early Years Foundation Stage staff.

Parent quote: “I love how much time they spend learning outdoors. The muddier my son is when I pick him up the more fun he has had learning that day”

Parent V

British Values

We promote British Values through Learning and Play. We support children's Personal Social and Emotional development (PSED)  by developing their self confidence and self awareness; giving opportunities to the children to make choices about what they choose to learn and the resources they will need. We encourage the children to manage their own feelings and behaviour. The children put together a list of expectations and rules and this is reflected on regularly.