EYFS

Welcome to EYFS at Widmer End. On this page you will find information about how we organise teaching and learning in the Early Years and see some highlights of what we have been up to.

Class organisation in EYFS

We have one Reception class at Widmer End with a maximum of 30 children in the class. We work as a unit with our Pre School team, to ensure smooth transitions between each class.

Pre School Staff Team

Key workers:

Deborah Stenner

Marie Baatz

Nabila Shaheen

Tamsin Cariven

Reception Staff Team

Mrs Watson - EYFS Lead and Reception Class Teacher

Teaching assistants - Mrs Tye and Mrs Shaheen

EYFS Teaching and Learning

In the Early Years Foundation Stage children learn best when they experience learning first hand, through meaningful interactions with others, through physical activity and through play. The Early Years curriculum emphasises three prime areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional
• Communication and Language
• Physical

The curriculum breaks down further into four specific areas of learning:

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

Teaching in Pre School and Reception is organised through a range of approaches and provides a balance of child initiated and adult-led activities:

• Planned focused activities where adults work with a small group of children at a time. Teachers will differentiate the activity to meet the needs of every child participating.
• Small group teaching of early reading and writing through a phonics based programme called Read Write Inc. Phonics
• Whole class teaching for short periods of time such as shared storytime, direct teaching (for example of maths), songs and rhymes, discussions and sharing work.
• Opportunities for teachers to work alongside children as they develop their own interests in particular areas of the curriculum.