Birkenhead High School Academy
EYFS curriculum
“When we give every child the best start in their early years, we give them what they need today. We also set them up with every chance of success tomorrow.”
Development Matters 2021
At BHSA, we have a clear vision for all of our EYFS pupils. Our curriculum incorporates what we want the children to experience, learn and be able to do. Throughout their time in Nursery and Reception, your child will partake in an ambitious curriculum which is designed in a sequential way to allow your child to progress and be ready for the next steps in their learning journey in Key Stage 1 and to tackle new challenges with confidence and a positive mindset.
Our staff have worked alongside other professionals to design 12 curriculum goals (overleaf) which aim to put simply what our intentions are for our pupils. These goals are based upon supporting their progress through the areas of learning towards meeting the early learning goals and upon developing and exhibiting the characteristics of effective learning. Our school values of kindness, forgiveness and respect are also incorporated to ensure pupils are being encouraged to uphold and demonstrate our core values and support the ethos of the school as a whole.
At BHSA we take time to get to know our pupils and observe them in their play in order to tailor curriculum planning effectively. Though topics of learning are mapped out in our Academy roadmaps which you will find on our website, our EYFS curriculum is one that remains highly responsive to pupil voice and staff are constantly adapting plans and following the interests of the children within a particular topic.
During their time in EYFS, your child will be learning all the time through our continuous provision, during well-planned activities in class/small groups and through focused teacher-led learning. Continuous provision activities are responsive to the needs of the children and are regularly updated to maintain interest and engagement, allow for opportunities to practise and apply what has been learnt in teacher-led activities and to develop skills in areas of learning that may need extra support.
Phonics and Mathematics
Each day your child will take part in a systematic synthetic phonics session supporting the development of language, reading, writing, spelling and speaking and listening. For more information about phonics please click the link on our website. Your child will also have a daily mathematics lesson that supports number-work, measure, shape and space. These sessions are practitioner-led, pupil-focused and scaffolded with opportunities for independent learning and collaborative learning.
Language as a priority
At BHSA we believe that language development is crucial to the progress and success of all of our pupils.
We pay close attention to the development of language and oracy through a language rich provision in which the embedding of new subject specific vocabulary is planned for in all areas.
This vocabulary is embedded into daily story and rhyme time and guided sessions as well as being promoted in play through our role play areas with pupils engaging in regular conversations with peers and adults in the provision.
How will I know how my child is getting on? All our EYFS pupils have an online Learning
Journey called ‘Tapestry’ which records photos, observations and comments.
We encourage you to work in partnership with us and to add to Tapestry by uploading photos and comments or commenting on observations made by us.
There will also be more formal opportunities in parent meetings and written reports to ensure that parent/carers are kept informed of their child’s progress.
How will I know how my child is getting on? If you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to talk to your class teacher at the end of the day or email the Junior School office to arrange a telephone conversation at any time.
What happens at the end of EYFS?
When your child is 5 (at the end of the EYFS) – in the summer term of the reception year in school, teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile.
This assessment is carried out by the reception teacher and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over their time in EYFS.
A written report will come home towards the end of the Summer term and opportunities are given for you to come in and discuss this with the class teacher.