At Leechpool, we have two classes in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS): Kangaroo and Koala Class, and we have a large interactive outside area that is used by both classes.

Our Early Years phase has been carefully developed to create an area which is calming and engaging for the children. The resources provided are purposeful, foster the children’s interest and allow for the children to build on their knowledge and skills. It is an environment set up to ensure the children can achieve without limits… to be the best they can be.

Our curriculum is a balance of play alongside structured adult led activities, which follows the EYFS Statutory curriculum.  It involves broad termly themes that allows for flexibility to tailor the curriculum to reflect the current needs and interests of the children and to ensure all children are engaged, supported and making good progress.

Our planning and the environment allow us to follow the children’s interests, whist ensuring the children have the correct coverage and exposure to a wide range of knowledge and skills.  The children have access to all areas of the Foundation Stage during self-initiated times where they can explore, practise and refine their skills and become inquisitive, successful learners.

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The EYFS curriculum is based on the following areas:

3 Prime areas

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

4 Specific areas

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

This is a brief overview of our EYFS curriculum.

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Play

Play is an important part of your child’s day. We carefully plan our environment to cover all areas of the curriculum and to reflect the needs and next steps of all the children. 

The adults support the children within their play to further their learning.

Play supports exploration, decision making, making links and being able to learn in their own personal way.

There is a balance of play with structured learning activities that are planned for the children.

At Leechpool, we know that all children learn in different ways.  Our staff understand how children learn most effectively, and offer nurturing care and support for every child.

These characteristics of learning are

Playing and exploring - observing how children engage with their learning

• Finding out and exploring,
• Using what they know in their play 
• Being willing to have a go

Active learning - observing how children are motivated to learn

• Being involved and concentrating 
• Keeping on trying
• Enjoying and achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically - observing how children are thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Using what they already know to learn new things
• Choosing ways to do things and finding new ways

Click on an image below to view these pictures in a slideshow.