EYFS
Our early years setting follows the curriculum as outlined in the latest version of the EYFS Statutory Framework that applies from September 2021.
The EYFS framework includes seven areas of learning and development that are equally important and inter-connected. However, three areas known as the prime areas are seen as particularly important for igniting curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building children’s capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
The prime areas are:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through 4 specific areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Despite there being several areas of learning, Langley Primary put a strong emphasis on the development of vocabulary communication and language development throughout each area of the curriculum.
This has offered a top-level view of how children develop and learn, which builds on the strengths and meets the needs of the children. Additionally, the curriculum has been designed with professional judgement and consists of key experiences to aid the development of the children at Langley Primary. It is designed so that depth of learning is the priority rather than moving from one band to the next.
Our curriculum aim is to improve outcomes for all children, close the gaps of disadvantaged children and ensure all children are ready for the next stage of their education.
Wow Moments
With three, four and five-year-old children, many of their ‘milestone moments’ happen outside of school. This could be their first time on a bike without stabilisers, a visit to a famous landmark, overcoming a fear … any significant moment in their life. We ask families to capture these moments and send them into us so that we can display and celebrate their achievements.
The Importance of Reading
We cannot stress enough how important it is that your child develops a love of books. In Foundation Key Stage, we prompt the love of reading through sharing our Langley 100 books and getting children to immerse themselves in stories.
During Reception, we will make sure every child gets off to a ‘flying start’ with their reading. Each child will read individually with an adult at least once a week. They will bring home reading books to read at home each week and a reading for pleasure book. As a parent, you can support this development by taking every opportunity to get alongside your child reading a book. This may be helping them with a school reading book, sharing a well-loved story together or browsing the shelves in your local library for something new and exciting to read.
Phonics – Little Wandle Letters and Sounds
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised is a complete systematic synthetic phonics programme (SSP) based on the original Letters and Sounds.
In Nursery, we provide a balance of child-led and adult-led experiences for all children that meet the curriculum expectations for ‘Communication and Language’ and ‘Literacy’. These include:
- sharing high-quality stories and poems
- learning a range of nursery rhymes and action rhymes
- activities that develop focused listening and attention, including oral blending
- attention to high-quality language.
- We ensure Nursery children are well prepared to begin learning grapheme-phoneme correspondences (GPCs) and blending in Reception.
In Reception, we teach phonics for 30 minutes a day. In Reception, we build from 10-minute lessons, with additional daily oral blending games, to the full-length lesson as quickly as possible. Each Friday, we review the week’s teaching to help children become fluent readers.
- Children make a strong start in Reception: teaching begins in Week 2 of the Autumn term.
- We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised expectations of progress: Children in Reception are taught to read and spell words using Phase 2 and 3 GPCs, and words with adjacent consonants (Phase 4) with fluency and accuracy.
- Any child who needs additional practice has daily keep-up support, taught by a fully trained adult. Keep-up lessons match the structure of class teaching, and use the same procedures, resources and mantras, but in smaller steps with more repetition, so that every child secures their learning.
Click here to find the Little Wandle resources page. This will help you support your child with saying their sounds and writing their letters. There are also some useful videos so you can see how they are taught at school and feel confident about supporting their reading at home. Find our full Reception and Year 1 teaching programme overview here to see what your child will learn and when.
Parents and carers! If you have bought the Little Wandle at Home Phonics Flashcards don’t forget to check out four fun games to play with your children on the Collins website.