EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at St Chad’s Catholic Primary School

At St Chad’s Catholic Primary School, we believe that the early years provide the foundation for lifelong learning. Our Early Years curriculum is designed to nurture curiosity, confidence and independence while ensuring children develop the key skills needed for future success.

Rooted in our Catholic ethos, we create a caring and supportive environment where children feel safe, valued and ready to learn. Through a balance of structured teaching and purposeful play, children are supported to explore, question and develop their understanding of the world around them.

Many children join St Chad’s with starting points that are below national expectations, particularly in communication and language. Our Early Years curriculum therefore places a strong emphasis on developing language, physical development and early literacy so that children make strong progress and are well prepared for Key Stage 1.

Our EYFS Curriculum

Our Early Years curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage framework and focuses on developing the seven areas of learning:

Prime Areas

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

The prime areas are prioritised in the early stages as they provide the foundations for all future learning.

Communication and Language

Developing children’s communication and language skills is a key priority in our Early Years provision.

Staff provide rich opportunities for conversation, storytelling and discussion to help children develop their vocabulary and confidence in speaking and listening. High-quality interactions between adults and children support language development and help children to express their ideas clearly.

Our work through the Early Language Development Programme (ELDP) further strengthens children’s communication skills and ensures pupils develop the language needed to access the wider curriculum.

Early Reading and Phonics

Early reading is taught through our systematic phonics programme Read Write Inc (RWI). Daily phonics sessions support children in learning to recognise sounds, blend words and develop early reading fluency.

Children are encouraged to develop a love of reading through shared stories, class texts and access to a wide range of books within the classroom environment.

Early Writing and Physical Development

In Early Years, we recognise the strong link between physical development and early writing.

Children are given regular opportunities to develop their fine and gross motor skills through activities that strengthen core stability and coordination. This includes activities such as crawling, climbing and movement-based learning.

These experiences support children in developing the physical control needed for early mark making and writing.

Learning Through Play and Exploration

Children learn through a balance of adult-led teaching and child-initiated play.

Our carefully planned indoor and outdoor environments provide opportunities for children to explore, investigate and apply their learning across all areas of the curriculum.

Through play-based learning, children develop independence, creativity and problem-solving skills while building strong foundations for future learning.

Progress and Outcomes

Children at St Chad’s make strong progress during their time in Early Years.

Through high-quality teaching, strong language development and a carefully structured curriculum, children develop the knowledge and skills needed to transition successfully into Key Stage 1.

Assessment is ongoing throughout the year and staff work closely with parents to support each child’s development.