In the Early Years, learning takes place through carefully planned, play-based learning opportunities, both inside the classroom and also in our specially designated outdoor area. The EYFS curriculum has been designed with seven areas of learning and development in mind. These seven areas of learning are grouped into two strands, ‘prime’ and ‘specific’.

The Three Prime Areas of Learning and Development:

These lay down the foundation for all children’s learning, ensuring that children are able to relate to others, communicate effectively, and engage with their environment. The prime areas are dependent on each other and are universal in that they occur within all cultures and social backgrounds.

• Personal, social and emotional development
• Physical development
• Communication and language

The Four Specific Areas of Learning and Development:

These can be introduced flexibly but cannot be developed alone; they build on the development gained through the prime areas. The specific areas reflect individual children’s life experiences, including their cultural and social background. Practitioners will be able to plan for children’s next steps in the specific areas through their observations and knowledge of children’s likes, dislikes, and through regular feedback and communication from families.

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Alongside these seven areas of learning and development, the EYFS curriculum focuses on the way children learn. This is called The Characteristics of Effective Learning. Roughly speaking, they tell us that children are learning when they are:

• Playing and Exploring: How engaged they are in an activity.
• Active Learning: How motivated they are.
• Creating and Thinking Critically: How they develop their thinking.

EY staff will be warm, responsive, and sensitive to what they observe in play and respond with appropriate talk and questioning.

Staring Reception Year

Reception 2024-2025

Term Spring 5 and 6 2025: Monday 28th April 2025- Monday 21st July 2025

INSET Days (No children – Staff Training Day) – Friday 23rd May 2025 and Monday 21st July 2025

Little Wandle Letters and Sounds for Parents & Carers

Reception – Maths Passport 2024-25

Summer Spellings

Reception Spellings Summer 2 2025

Reception Spellings Summer 1 2025

To know more about what we are learning this term, please read our topic web below:

EYFS2 Topic Web Summer 2025 – Down at the Bottom of the Garden

Term Spring 3 and 4 2025: Monday 6th January 2025- Friday 11th April 2025

To know more about what we are learning this term, please read our topic web below:

EYFS Topic Web Spring 2025 – We Can Be Heroes

Spring Spellings

Reception Spellings Spring 2 2025

Reception Spellings Spring 1 2025

Term Autumn 1 and 2 2024: Monday 2nd September 2024- Friday 20th December 2024

To know more about what we are learning this term, please click the link below with our topic web.

EYFS Topic Web Autumn 2024 – Once Upon a Story…

Monday 2nd September 2024

• INSET Day (No children – Staff Training Day)

Tuesday 3rd – Friday 6th September 2024

• All Children until 12 pm

Monday 9th – Friday 13th September 2024

• All Children until 1 pm including lunchtime

From Monday 16th September 2024, Reception Class in full time for school day

Parent Meeting PowerPoints below:

Reception Transition Welcome 24-25 Early Reading – Phonics – Maths Wednesday

Reception Transition Welcome 24-25-  Wednesday 10th July 2024

We cannot wait to welcome all the new Deerhurst and Apperley pupils to Reception in September 2024!

When your child starts school, there is so much information to take on board and remember. We hope that within this section of our website we will be able to answer most of your questions and reassure you at this time.

Over the coming weeks, we will be sharing more information to put
your mind at ease and to help your child to feel excited about the prospect of starting at Deerhurst and Apperley in September 2024.

How can we prepare for Reception? 

Sing, sing, sing!

Music and singing are really helpful settling, learning new routines and developing language.

Nursery Rhymes which are great to support children’s speaking and listening and future reading skills. Research shows that if children know 8 Nursery rhymes by the time they are 4 years older, they will be some of the best readers by 8 years old! So sing, sing, sing.

Nursery Rhymes and Songs – BBC Teach 

Self-care

We really like this guide to starting starting school. We love the section on self-care and agree that it is really helpful if your child can do the following independently before they start school*:

• Going to the toilet
• Washing their hands
• Dressing and undressing (especially using tricky buttons and zips)
• Using a tissue
• Feeding themselves
• Tidying up.

* Please talk to us if your child struggles with any of these things. It’s normal and we’re here to help.

Useful websites

• For parents – Letters and Sounds (littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk)
• BBC iPlayer – Time for School – Songs: Get Ready
• BBC iPlayer – Time for School – Songs: Lets Make Friends
• Being school-ready | PACEY
• Starting primary school – BBC Bitesize
• Dough Disco Parent Information
• foundationyears.org.uk-Top Quality Ten Picture Books
• foundationyears.org.uk-Top Ten Number and Counting Books
• Centre for Literacy Primary Education (CLPE)  Wordless Books

If you have any questions about your child starting school, however big or small, please do not hesitate in contacting us. A member of school staff will endeavour to respond.