Foundation Stage

The Foundation Stage

The Foundation Stage applies to children from three years of age to the end of the Reception year. At our school we have named Nursery, Foundation 1 and Reception, Foundation 2. Children usually join Nursery in the term in which they are 4, and the main school in the term in which they are 5. Key Stage 1 begins for our children at the beginning of Year 1. The Foundation Stage is important in its own right, and in preparing children for later schooling. The Early Learning Goals set out what is expected of most children by the end of the Foundation Stage. Children who achieve the Early Learning Goals before the end of Reception will move onto working on the National Curriculum.

The early years education we offer our children is based on the following principles:

  • It builds on what our children already know and can do;
  • It ensures that no child is excluded or disadvantaged;
  • It offers structure for learning that has a range of starting points, content that matches the needs of young children, and activity that provides opportunities for learning both indoors and outdoors;
  • It provides a rich and stimulating environment.