Ready, Respectful, Safe

Stokenchurch Primary School and Nursery is an inclusive setting. 

Our Reception class offers daily care and education for children aged 4 - 5 years. We offer teacher-led, play-based learning opportunities which link directly to the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.  We believe that children learn best when they are engaged in experiences that are meaningful and all of our children are encouraged to explore their interests and express themselves in multiple ways.

Our Vision

Our Reception provision at Stokenchurch Primary School and Nursery will deliver the highest quality education and ensure that all our children have the best possible start to their school journey. They will experience activities which will help them progress in their development and learning. They are encouraged to play with what they know and to develop the confidence to ‘have a go’. We offer our children an experience that will foster a love of learning within a safe and stimulating environment which allows our children to flourish.

Our Intent

At Stokenchruch our aim is to create a positive and engaging learning environment which supports and enhances a child’s curiosity about themselves and the world around them. We build relationships with all of our children and support them to flourish, regardless of backgrounds, circumstances or needs. We aim to work collaboratively with parents and carers to encourage all of our children to become independent, enthusiastic learners who thrive and reach their full potential. It is our intent that children who join us in Reception begin their lifelong learning journey in becoming successful by developing themselves physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally. 

At Stokenchurch it is our intent to take into consideration the starting points and needs of all of our pupils and ensure that every child has access to a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum. We aim to prepare children for now and for the future, by providing them with enriched learning opportunities and experiences. Our curriculum allows for personal interests and individual needs, and allows us to plan and provide opportunities to support learning, development and achieve next steps.

Our Implementation

Our ambitious Early Years Curriculum aims to teach all children the skills and knowledge in order to reach the seventeen Early Learning Goals described by the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021.

At Stokenchurch we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This is made up of four overriding principles which our early year’s education is based upon:

• Unique Child – Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable,  confident and self-assured.
• Positive Relationships – Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
• Enabling Environments – Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers.
• Learning and Development – Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early year’s provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The curriculum provides a play-based and experiential learning environment, combined with focused teaching and basic skills, to ensure children make rapid progress before moving into Year 1. Children are provided with ample opportunities within our indoor and outdoor provision; engaging in planned, focused activities as well as child-initiated activities. The learning experiences within our environment are linked to the seven areas of learning. These areas are split into three prime areas and four specific areas. 

Prime Areas: areas which children should develop first and are considered most essential for healthy development. 

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development – involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
• Communication and Language – involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
• Physical Development – involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Specific Areas: As children grow and make progress, they begin to naturally develop skills within the four specific areas. 

• Literacy – the early teaching of literacy involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. 
• Mathematics – the early teaching of mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and describing shapes, spaces, and measures.
• Understanding the World – this involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. 
• Expressive Arts and Design – this involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

Our curriculum offers rich first-hand experiences (inside, outdoors, visitors and school trips) that widen the children's opportunities, experiences, awe and wonderment. Exploratory learning and thinking creatively, including problem-solving across all areas of learning, help to deepen the children's knowledge and understanding of themselves and the world in which they live in. New vocabulary and concepts through reading will excite and engage all learners, encouraging them to ask questions, make comments and take risks in a safe and stimulating environment. 

Our Impact

Our children grow to be confident, competent lifelong learners and good citizens.

The children at Stokenchurch experience a smooth transition between the Early Years and beyond. Effective communication and collaboration ensure the children leave the Reception with a solid foundation of learning which they can build upon.

Our dedicated staff take time to get to know each child as an individual by spending time with them; learning, playing, exploring, supporting and understanding them. Our team work together in order to have expert knowledge of each child’s ability and understand the next steps required to progress their learning. Throughout the year, we carry out summative assessments to look at children’s attainment in relation to age-related expectations within the Early learning Goals and Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.

Our Reception team meet regularly to discuss the children and ensure their individual needs are being met. They use their professional judgement, evidence and observations of children’s learning to plan opportunities which allow for progress to be made. The learning in Reception is recorded on Tapestry, a secure online learning journal which helps staff and families celebrate children's learning and development. Weekly learning blogs are uploaded by the staff in reference to the EYFS curriculum, and parents are encouraged to upload observations, photos or videos to record children’s achievements at home. The children's learning is shared and celebrated at school during class/phase assemblies and a variety of 'stay and share' sessions.  In addition to Tapestry, the children in Reception are provided with Phonics Work Books and Writing Books which evidence to the children and their families, the success of their learning throughout the year.

Parents and Carers as Partners

We operate an open-door policy in Reception and both class teachers are available at the beginning and end of each day should you wish to discuss any matters with them. Our support staff can also be available to talk to you most mornings, so please just ask Mrs Scales or Miss Foster if you would like to talk to any member of the team. We also encourage you to email the office should you want a discussion that requires slightly more time and discretion. Mrs Warner, our Early Years Lead, is also happy to help with any queries you may have, and she can be contacted via the school office. 

Office Email: office@stokenchurchprimary.bucks.sch.uk