Play is the beginning of knowledge.

Our Intent
In the Early Years at Prince Bishops Primary School, children learn and play together in a caring environment. They will be offered opportunities and experiences which develop their skills and knowledge, foster independence and a love of learning, and prepare them well for the next phase in their education. The core values that drive our work are honesty, ambition, responsibility and kindness.
 

The Curriculum

Children begin their learning journey in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which includes a 2 year old nursery room, 3 year old nursery room and Reception class.

Our Early Years curriculum follows the Early Years Statutory Framework and is built around four key principles:

• Every child is unique and develops in their own way
• Positive relationships help children feel safe and confident
• Enabling environments support learning through play
• Learning and development happen through fun, engaging experiences

How Children Learn

We support children to become happy, confident learners by encouraging:

• Playing and exploring
• Active learning
• Creative and critical thinking

Areas of Learning

Children learn through seven areas:

• 3 Prime Areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication and Language; Physical Development.
• 4 Specific Areas: Literacy; Mathematics; Understanding the World; Expressive Arts and Design.

What Learning Looks Like

Positive relationships, enabling environments and play are at the heart of everything we do at Prince Bishops, and learning opportunities are carefully planned for progression of knowledge and skills. Children develop strong communication skills through talk, stories, songs and play. They learn to manage emotions, build friendships and grow in independence. Physical activity helps children build strength, coordination and confidence. A love of reading and early writing is encouraged through shared stories and phonics. Children explore numbers, patterns and shapes through practical activities and play. They learn about the world around them through first-hand experiences and express themselves creatively through art, music and imaginative play. 

Key Person

Each child has a key person who helps them feel safe, settled and supported. They work closely with families, track progress and offer guidance on how to support learning at home. Parents can contact their child’s key person in person, by phone or via the Seesaw app. At Prince Bishops, your child's key person is usually the class teacher or room leader.

Assessment

We continuously observe and support children as they learn, using this to plan next steps. Parents are encouraged to share their child’s achievements and interests with us.  Observations of children's learning experiences are communicated via the Seesaw app.  Your child’s key person is also available at the beginning and end of sessions to chat to you about your child’s progress.

Your Child's Progress in Reception

During the first few weeks in Reception, children complete the Reception Baseline Assessment to help us understand their starting points.

Parents are invited to drop-in meetings in the autumn and spring terms, with a written report shared in July. At the end of Reception, children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals, and those meeting expectations achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD).

Your Child’s Progress in Nursery

Parents are invited to drop-in meetings in the autumn and spring terms, with a written progress summary or report provided in July.

Progress Check for Two-Year-Olds

Children aged 24–36 months receive a short progress check in the three prime areas of learning. This celebrates progress, identifies any support needed and explains how school and home can work together.

The check is completed in your child’s final term in the two-year-old room.