Early Years Foundation Stages
Early Years Foundation Stage
Welcome to our Early Years Foundation Stage at Kilnhurst St Thomas. We believe the early years are the most important time in a child’s education. Across our EYFS classes, we provide nurturing, exciting and purposeful environments where children feel safe, curious and confident to explore. Every child is unique, and we aim to give them the strongest possible start to their school journey.
Building Strong Foundations
The early years are where the building blocks for future learning are put in place. In EYFS, we place a strong emphasis on the three prime areas: Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. These are the cornerstones of all later progress. Alongside them, children are introduced to the specific areas of Literacy, Maths, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.
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Talk at the Heart of Learning
Good communication is the key to learning, friendships and confidence. High-quality talk is central to everything we do because strong communication skills give children the best possible start for reading, writing and beyond.
We use the ShREC approach (Shared Attention, Respond, Expand, Conversation) to make every interaction count:
- Shared Attention – adults join in with what children are interested in, showing they are listening and engaged.
- Respond – we reply to children’s words and actions so they feel understood and valued.
- Expand – adults add new words or ideas to build children’s vocabulary and thinking.
- Conversation – we encourage back-and-forth talk, helping children develop confidence and a love of communication.
Through these everyday moments, children grow into confident speakers and listeners, ready to learn and thrive.
Growing a Love of Reading
At St Thomas, we want every child to grow up with a love of stories and the confidence to become a reader.
In FS2, children enjoy daily phonics sessions using Read Write Inc. They learn new sounds step by step, practise blending them into words, and begin to read with increasing fluency and confidence. Phonics also supports their early writing, as they start forming letters and building simple words and sentences of their own.
In FS1, we lay the foundations for reading by surrounding children with stories, songs and rhymes. Through listening games, sound play and plenty of talk, children learn to tune into language and develop the skills they need for phonics. More formal teaching begins in the summer term, but every day is rich with playful opportunities that build curiosity and excitement about words.
Story time is a treasured part of our day across both FS1 and FS2. We share high quality books, poems and non fiction texts that spark imagination, enrich vocabulary and create special moments of calm and joy.
We know children make the best progress when reading is shared at home too. Little and often works best, whether that is enjoying a bedtime story, chatting about the pictures, or letting your child choose their favourite book. These simple routines not only build skills but also show children that reading is something to be loved and enjoyed together.
Making Maths Meaningful
In the early years, we want children to see maths as fun, practical and part of their everyday world.
Through White Rose Maths and lots of hands-on play, children build a deep understanding of number, pattern and shape. We use real objects, games and problem-solving to make learning meaningful and enjoyable.
Children explore counting, comparing amounts, spotting patterns and using everyday language to describe size, weight, capacity and time. These playful experiences help children see how maths is all around them, building confidence and curiosity that will support their future learning.
At home, simple activities such as counting steps, sharing out fruit, spotting shapes on a walk or talking about the time can all make maths part of daily life and show children that numbers are everywhere.
Building Strong Bodies for Confident Writers
In the early years, strong fine and gross motor skills provide the foundation for confident writing.
To support this, children take part in daily Dough Disco and Squiggle sessions. These fun activities build strength and control in fingers, wrists and arms through songs and movements. Alongside this, children develop coordination and balance through climbing, running and jumping, and practise control through drawing, painting and mark-making.
These playful experiences prepare children to hold a pencil correctly and write with growing fluency as they progress.
At home, simple activities such as using playdough, threading beads, pegging out washing or helping with baking all help to strengthen little hands and support early writing.
A Curriculum Full of Curiosity
In EYFS, our curriculum is designed to capture children’s imaginations and make learning meaningful. Each topic is carefully chosen to spark curiosity and connect with children’s everyday lives.
Throughout the year, we explore exciting themes such as Me and My Community and Once Upon a Time in the autumn term, Starry Night and Ready Steady Grow in spring, and Animal Safari and On the Beach in summer.
In the classroom, these themes come alive through role-play areas, story corners, creative projects and hands-on investigations. Outdoors, children might explore nature, build together or take part in seasonal activities linked to their topic. Visitors, trips and celebrations bring extra excitement and help children make real-life connections with what they are learning.
These experiences do much more than teach knowledge. They build confidence, independence, imagination and social skills. Children learn to ask questions, solve problems, share ideas and see themselves as curious, capable learners. Most importantly, our curriculum makes learning joyful, because when children are happy, they thrive.
A Day in the Life of EYFS
Every day in EYFS is filled with exciting opportunities to learn, play and grow. Children begin with a warm and welcoming morning routine before moving into phonics and reading through Read Write Inc.
Maths is taught through practical exploration, using real objects and games that make learning meaningful and fun. Each day also includes Dough Disco or Squiggle, helping children develop early writing skills through lively songs and movements.
A big part of our day is spent outdoors. Our outdoor areas are seen as an extension of the classroom, where children can explore nature, develop physical skills, work together on large-scale projects and enjoy the freedom to move, build and imagine.
There is also plenty of time for continuous provision, where children choose their own learning through play, alongside small group sessions with an adult. The day always ends with story time, songs and reflection, creating a calm and happy close to the day.
Every Child Shines
Every child in EYFS is valued, celebrated and supported as an individual. We take time to get to know each child, recognising their unique strengths, interests and needs.
We observe and assess learning using the Progress towards the Early Learning Goals framework. For children with more complex needs, we also use the Engagement Model, which helps us notice and celebrate the small but meaningful steps children make in areas such as exploring, persisting, anticipating, initiating and realising. This ensures that every achievement, however small, is recognised and valued.
When extra help is needed, we provide the right support at the right time. Early intervention is central to our approach, helping every child to make progress, grow in confidence and feel proud of what they can do.
We work hand-in-hand with families and, where needed, with other professionals, so that children feel fully supported both in school and at home. Together, we ensure that every child is happy, secure and ready to thrive.
Learning Together with Families
We know that children make the best progress when school and families work hand in hand. Parents are warmly encouraged to be active partners in their child’s learning through:
- Workshops on phonics, early maths and ways to support learning at home
- Stay and Play sessions, where families can join in classroom life
- Celebrations and events such as Harvest, Christmas, Easter and Sports Day
Sharing learning from home through reading diaries, photographs and our class communication systems
By working together, we build strong and trusting relationships that help every child feel supported, confident and ready to shine.
Making Memories Together
In EYFS, learning is joyful, practical and full of special moments. We love to celebrate children’s achievements and experiences through:
- Trips and visits such as local walks, the Butterfly House and our local area
- Visitors from the community, including police officers, firefighters and doctors
- Special events like World Book Day, the Nativity and the Easter Bonnet Parade
- Classroom displays that showcase and value childrens learning
These celebrations bring learning to life, create lasting memories and help children see themselves as proud, confident learners who shine.
Explore and Learn Together
Read Write Inc Phonics for Parents – information and videos to help you support your child with phonics at home.
White Rose Maths EYFS – ideas and resources to show how maths is taught in a fun and practical way.
Hungry Little Minds – simple tips and activities from the Department for Education to support communication, language and play at home.
BBC Tiny Happy People – videos, games and activity ideas to boost children’s early communication and development.
BookTrust – Reading with your Child – advice and book suggestions to make reading enjoyable for families.
BBC CBeebies Numberblocks – fun clips and games that help children build a love of numbers and early maths.
