Minster C of E Primary School

Early Years Foundation Stage at The Minster C.E. Primary School

Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Our Vision is that all children are happy, supported, thrive and succeed during their first year at school. 

At the Minster, children are given the opportunity to learn through play-based activities, both indoors and outdoors.  We have a bright and airy classroom with a fantastic partially covered outside area to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage 2 curriculum. We also have a grassed outside learning area with trees, science station and mud kitchen.  We also use our extensive school grounds to facilitate learning.  This includes a spacious field with a running track, a climbing frame, a timber trail and 2 separate Astroturf learning areas that include a stage, tepees and storytelling chair.

Early Years Curriculum

The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning. Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and

demonstrating their understanding through 7 interconnected areas of learning and development.

These are:
 

THREE PRIME AREAS

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

FOUR SPECIFIC AREAS

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Teaching and Learning

These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The EYFS curriculum is delivered with a careful balance between child initiated and adult led learning. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking. A carefully planned curriculum, which is informed by the children’s interests, ensures children are active participants in their learning and development. Continuous observation and assessment ensures that our provision is tailored to the needs of the individual child.  Our environment indoors and outdoors is continually enhanced with resources designed to scaffold and maximise learning. 

The topics taught vary from term to term and year to year depending on the children’s interests and needs.

2024 – 2025 our topics are:

Parental Partnerships

We strongly believe that parental partnerships can only support children’s learning. We work closely with parents throughout the year to ensure their child has the most positive start possible to their school career. We invite parents and carers to attend a meeting prior to their child starting school in September. We welcome parents and carers to a phonics and maths workshop during the Autumn term.  Weekly diaries are sent home for parents and children to share comments about learning from the week.

Early Years Enrichment

Enrichment opportunities are experienced throughout the year and provide learning opportunities for first hand, real life experiences.  Such opportunities have been:

• A visit by the police, paramedic and fire safety officer.
• A visit to the local fire station.
• A visit to the local library.
• Tennis taster sessions.
• Basketball coaching.
• First Aid session.
• Scientist visit and workshop.
• A visit to Dorchester Dinosaur Museum.
• Den building and problem-solving workshop.

Each child in Reception is paired up with a Year 5 Buddy while they are settling into the new school environment.  Buddies offer support, guidance and reassurance during playtimes and lunchtimes.  They also help support the children during walks to Minster Church.  We place great emphasis on exploring and sharing learning and we encourage children to celebrate achievements with their buddies.  Buddies work closely during our RE Journey Days and we even picked apples from trees in the school ground and made apple crumble together.