The care and education offered by S. Anselm's Foundation Stage provision helps children to learn and develop by providing all the children with exciting and stimulating activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development.
The children will access the revised EYFS curriculum’s seven areas of learning.
Three Prime areas –
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Four Specific areas-
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
The younger children will spend a greater proportion of their time engaging in activities which develop their skills in the Prime areas, moving into the specific areas when they are ready.
Our curriculum is planned around the children’s interests and through this we provide a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities, conducive for effective learning and development.
The provision and support creates opportunities for-
• Playing and exploring – where the children investigate and experience things,
and ‘have a go’
• Active learning – where the children concentrate and keep on trying if they
encounter difficulties, and enjoy their achievements.
• Creating and thinking critically – where the children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Our high adults to child ratios enable thorough observations and individual pupil tracking. And our in-depth knowledge of each child in our care, allows us to tailor every child’s support to suit their unique requirements.
S. Anselm's Foundation Stage approach to learning, development and assessment
We assses how the children are learning and developing by observing them frequently. We use information gained from these observations, as well as from photographs and collections of their “work” to document their progress. We believe that parents know their children best and ask them to contribute to assessment by sharing information about their children’s interests at home and how they as parents support their development
We make periodic assessment summaries of children’s achievements based on our on going development records. These are undertaken three times a year as well as at transition.
Record of Achievement
We keep a record of achievement for each child. This helps us celebrate with the parents the child’s achievement and work together to provide what she/ he needs to progress. Information is collected by the child’s key person on their interests, needs, activities, and achievements. This helps us identify the child’s next steps and to progress onto the next stage
Working together for the children.
S. Anselm's prides itself in maintaining small class/ group ratios and the foundation stage is no exception. This helps us to;
§ Give time and attention to each child;
§ Talk with the children about their interests and activities;
§ Help children to experience and benefit from the activities we provide; and
§ Allow the children to explore and be adventurous in safety.
Miss Sarah Aitken, B.A.(Hons), P.G.C.E.
Janice Robinson Nursery Assistant NVQ LEVEL 3
Lulu Caudwell Reception Class Teacher Montessori Dip.
Jennifer Moorewood Reception Class Teaching assistant NVQ LEVEL3
Sarah Rodgers Reception Class Teaching assistant NVQ LEVEL2
At S. Anselms we believe that children settle best when they have a key person to relate to, who knows them and their parents well, and who can meet their individual needs. Research shows that a key person approach benefits the child, the parents, the staff and the Nursery/ School by providing secure relationships in which children thrive, parents have confidence, staff are committed and the Nursery /School is a happy and dedicated place to attend or work in.
We want children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the Nursery/ School and to feel secure and comfortable with staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children's well-being and their role as active partners with the Nursery/ School.
We aim to make the Nursery /School a welcoming place where children settle quickly and easily because consideration has been given to the individual needs and circumstances of children and their families.
The key person role is set out in the Welfare Requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
Each Nursery/ School must offer a key person for each child.
The procedures set out a model for developing a key person approach that promotes effective and positive relationships for children who are in the Nursery and School.
S. Anselm's Foundation Stage like the school prides itself in having a low teacher: child ratio, this enables the teachers (Nursery) Sarah Aitken and (Reception) Lulu Caudwell and their assistants to give the children a more individualised and personal approach to their learning. Our role is to support your child, ensuring they child reach his/ her full potential.
Because of the small numbers both Miss Aitken and Mrs Caudwell will work together in providing the “Key Person “role.
The nursery/ school timetable and routines
S. Anselm's believes that care and education are equally important in the experience which we offer children. The routines and activities that make up their day are provide in ways that:
§ Help each child to feel he/ she is a valued member of the nursery/ school
§ Ensure the safety of each child
§ Help children to gain from the social experience of being part of a group; and
§ Provide children with opportunities to learn and to help them value learning.
The day/ session
We organise our sessions/ day so that the children can take part in a variety of child chosen and adult led activities. We cater for children’s individual needs for rest and quiet activities during their time with us. Outdoor activities are available every day and the children are encouraged to take part in them.
Copies of the Foundation Stage Policies and procedures are available on request. The policies help us to make sure that the service we provide is a high quality one and that by being a pupil at the school is an enjoyable and beneficial experience for each individual child and family.
Policies are reviewed annually to ensure quality.