The Early Years Foundation Stage is the curriculum your child follows from birth until the end of their first year in school. Here at Barrow we believe that Early Years provision should prepare children for their school life and equip them with the skills they need to be successful learners.
We place great emphasis on building strong, secure relationships with all of the children in our care, so that every member of staff knows each individual child joining the school community and the children feel safe and settle into school life quickly. We develop children’s independence, confidence and social skills through carefully planned opportunities that build upon children’s strengths, needs and interests. Children explore, play, investigate and create in an environment that enables independent learning, alongside more formal adult led teaching. The adults also spend time observing the children to plan for next steps in order to move the children’s learning on. The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum is full and varied.
We plan for learning in all seven areas of the curriculum: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language, Literacy, Mathematical Development, Knowledge of the World and Expressive Arts and Design. Learning takes place inside and outside whatever the weather! We make full use of our specially designed outside area, which includes a builders’ yard, water wall, outdoor maths area, stage, mud kitchen, bug hotel, climbing equipment and much more! During the Autumn term children engage in Forest Schools activities in our school wildlife area.
Later in the year, Early Years children participate in a weekly swimming session in our onsite swimming pool, which allows them to build water confidence and independence alongside their peers.
