Welcome to Our Early Years Class Page

The EYFS Team....

 

     

Mrs. McMahon - Class teacher     

Mrs Hird - Teaching Assistant       

Mrs Prendergast - Teaching Assistant

 

Below you will find useful information, ideas and class news........so watch this space!

 

 

Early Years Curriculum Intent

 

School Mission Statement

We come together as St. Joseph’s family

To learn, share our faith and do our best to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

 

Whole school Curriculum Intent

Our curriculum is inspired by the words of Oscar Romero, ‘Aspire not to have more, but to be more’. We aim to provide a Catholic Christian education, based on the life and teaching of Jesus Christ, in which the values of the Gospel underpin all aspects of school life.  We will provide an environment in which the dignity of each person as a child of God is recognised and developed; and promote the full potential of each child through our curriculum which develops spiritual, academic, social and emotional growth.

In designing our curriculum, we have provided opportunities for our children which are underpinned by three curriculum drivers;

• Communication and Language
• Understanding of the World
• Independence in thought and action

We celebrate a ‘knowledge-engaged’ approach to learning, ensuring essential aspects of subject knowledge are learnt, alongside life-long learning skills to enable children to become resilient and independent learners for the future.

Subject Intent

At St Joseph’s RC Voluntary Academy, we aim to provide a motivating first-hand experience to enable children to learn more and remember more. We recognise that all children are unique individuals, and we acknowledge and promote children’s interests as well as encourage their resilience to look after their own mental health and wellbeing. We celebrate and welcome differences within our school community. We recognise children’s prior learning and various starting points and create a holistic curriculum that maximises cross curricular links and builds strong foundations for their future. Our EYFS curriculum is specifically designed and evolves to provide children with important foundational skills and knowledge that will later be enhanced and embedded in KS1. We use Development Matters 2022 to support the statutory framework and explore a balance of adult and child led themes encourages children to go on with their learning to reach their end goal.

Our pedagogy is inspired by the Curiosity Approach which ignites a child’s natural curiosity to explore the world around them. We ensure we have real life experiences and display open ended resources for the children to explore in play. Engagement is increased further by carefully planned themed days and trips. The Curiosity Approach allows children to make their own choices and, figure out things for themselves which leads to enhanced confidence, critical thinking and problems solving. We aim to create children who are ‘thinkers and doers’ instead of passive learners who simply follow the direction of an adult. We implement this by providing vibrant indoor and outdoor provision and enhance this with Forest School sessions. We promote children to take challenges, be positive and take a risk in their own learning. We work in close partnership with parents and carers throughout the year to support their learning and encourage children to reach their full potential.

Areas of Learning

The Prime Areas.

- Communication and language

- Physical Development

- Personal, Social and Emotional  

The Specific Areas:

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

The Curriculum is also set around the following learning characteristics:

• Playing and exploring 
• Active learning
• Creating and thinking critically