Foundation Stage

During the time they are at Swarland the children's work is planned by the teaching staff according to the statutory guide lines from the DfES. It is divided into three Key Stages:-

Foundation Stage - Nursery /Playgroup and Reception

Key Stage 1 - Year 1 and Year 2 children 

Key Stage 2-  Year 3 and year 4 children 

 Mrs Mason is the Early Years teacher and teaches the Reception class at Swarland. She is also the coordinating teacher for SALEY's (see below) and runs the SHARE project in school - training for parents. 

OUR FOUNDATION STAGE ETHOS

We believe that effective education rests upon a partnership between home and school; one supporting the other for the benefit of the child.  This is particularly true during a child's early education.  We recognise, that at home and during pre-school educational provision, valuable learning takes place through a wide variety of experiences.  We provide a broad and balanced curriculum, designed to meet the needs and characteristics of the young child, building on these previous learning experiences.

At Swarland we set out to provide:

1.   An atmosphere where the child feels secure, happy and valued.

2.   A learning environment which has been carefully organised to encourage independence and decision making; present challenges and to increase opportunities for co-operative play.

3.   Purposeful activities which are appropriate to the needs of each child and which are exciting and stimulating.

4.   Teaching approaches which are flexible, imaginative and sensitive in responding to the changing needs of the children.

We recognise the value of play as the principle and most effective method of learning. Good structured play allows for discovery and problem solving. It is purposeful, absorbing, open-ended and enables children to communicate with each other. It is the vehicle by which we gain access to the curriculum.

Work tasks are also planned in order to develop appropriate skills, concepts, attitudes, knowledge and understanding across six areas of learning and experience.

These are:

Personal Social and Emotional Development
Communication, Language and Literacy
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Physical Development
Creative Development

Of course, the first three areas form the major part of the learning. Through a balanced combination of work tasks and structured play the children become confident and competent learners, helping them to make a smooth transition from the Early Years curriculum to the National Curriculum at Key Stage One.