Early Years Foundation Stage

Welcome to Early Years at Eastbury Community School. In Nursery and Reception, we provide a safe, nurturing environment where children feel happy, confident and excited to learn. Our days are full of play, talk, stories and hands-on experiences that help children build strong foundations for life-long learning.

What will your child experience in EYFS?

In our Early Years, children learn best through play, exploration and meaningful experiences. Every day, your child will take part in a balance of child-initiated play and carefully planned adult-led activities that support their development, confidence and wellbeing.

Your child will experience:

• a warm, safe and nurturing environment where they feel happy and valued

• learning through play, both indoors and outdoors

• stories, songs, talk and role play to build language and communication skills

• daily opportunities to develop early reading, writing and maths skills

• hands-on activities that encourage curiosity, creativity and problem-solving

• support to build friendships, independence and resilience

Our experienced Early Years staff get to know every child well, using their interests to plan engaging learning experiences. We help children to develop the key skills they need to feel confident, capable and ready for the next stage of their learning journey.

Sounds-Write Phonics

We teach phonics using the Sounds-Write programme — a structured, evidence-based approach that helps children learn to read and spell with confidence.

Sounds-Write teaches children:

• that words are made up of sounds

• how these sounds are written down as letters

• how to blend sounds together to read words

• how to segment sounds to spell words

Phonics sessions take place every day and are:

• short, focused and engaging

• taught in small groups

• carefully matched to each child’s stage of learning

Children practise reading and spelling through fun, interactive activities and games, helping them to develop strong foundations for reading, writing and future learning.

 

👉 Initial Code Scope and Sequence

How can I help my child with phonics at home?

We strongly encourage parents and carers to complete the free Sounds-Write online course, which explains how phonics is taught in school and how you can best support your child at home.

The course:

• is short and easy to follow

• uses clear videos and examples

• helps you use the same language and methods as school

👉 Click Here - FREE Sounds-Write Parents/Carers Course!

Practise the Sounds-Write Sounds

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Writing & Early Literacy

In Early Years, children develop writing skills gradually and confidently, starting with mark making, drawing and talk. We place a strong emphasis on spoken language and storytelling, helping children to express their ideas before moving on to writing.

We use Talk for Writing to support children’s early literacy. This approach helps children to:

• enjoy and retell familiar stories

• build a rich vocabulary

• develop confidence in speaking and listening

• begin to write simple words and sentences

Children are encouraged to write for real purposes — such as labels, lists, captions and simple stories — during both adult-led activities and independent play.

Writing activities are carefully linked to phonics, ensuring children use the sounds they have learned to spell words as they begin their writing journey.

Our Reading Spine: books chosen by Pie Corbett

We carefully choose the stories we share with children using Pie Corbett’s Reading Spine for Nursery and Reception.

The Reading Spine is a collection of high-quality, much-loved books that are personally recommended by Pie Corbett to support children’s language development, imagination and love of reading.

These stories:

• are rich in language and storytelling

• are designed to be read and enjoyed again and again

• help children build vocabulary and story knowledge

• support children’s early reading and writing skills

By sharing these stories regularly, children become familiar with language patterns, characters and story structures — all of which supports their confidence in talking, reading and writing.

👉 Please click here to view Pie Corbett's Reading Spine for Nursery

👉Please click here to view Pie Corbett's Reading Spine for Reception

Maths in EYFS

In Early Years, children learn maths best through practical, hands-on experiences that are meaningful and fun. We use Maths No Problem to support children’s understanding of number, shape and mathematical thinking.

Maths No Problem encourages children to:

• explore numbers deeply rather than rushing ahead

• talk about their thinking and explain their ideas

• solve problems using practical resources

• build confidence and enjoyment in maths

  

Manipulatives

Children use a wide range of mathematical manipulatives to help them understand concepts in a concrete and visual way. These include:

• counters and cubes

• tens frames and number lines

• beads, shapes and sorting equipment

Using practical resources helps children to see, touch and understand maths before moving on to more abstract ideas.

Maths Journals

Children also record their learning in maths journals, where they:

• draw pictures to show their thinking

• record numbers and simple calculations

• explain their ideas with adult support

Below are some examples from our maths journals, showing how children use drawings, numbers and practical resources to record their learning.

 

Forest School

Forest School is a regular and valued part of our Early Years curriculum. It gives children the opportunity to learn, explore and play in a natural outdoor environment, helping them to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning.

During Forest School sessions, children:

• explore nature through hands-on experiences

• develop teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills

• build physical strength, coordination and resilience

• take safe risks and challenge themselves in a supportive environment

• enjoy outdoor activities such as den building, nature art, storytelling and imaginative play

Forest School supports children’s wellbeing, self-confidence and curiosity, while also strengthening skills that link to all areas of learning, including communication, maths, creativity and personal development.

Children are encouraged to follow their interests, ask questions and learn at their own pace, guided by trained staff who ensure sessions are safe, purposeful and enjoyable.

Working in Partnership with Parents

We keep parents informed and involved through:

• ClassDojo – our main platform for sharing learning updates, photos, videos and key messages

• BromCom – used for important school information and communication

• ParentPay – used for payments and bookings

Through these platforms, parents can see what their child is learning, celebrate achievements and stay up to date with school life.

We also support parents by:

• offering workshops and information sessions

• sharing guidance on how to support learning at home

• being available to discuss children’s progress and wellbeing

We encourage open communication and welcome conversations with parents, ensuring that every child feels supported both at home and at school.

EYFS Curriculum & Statutory Information

For parents and carers who would like more detailed information about our Early Years curriculum, the documents below provide an overview of how learning is planned, sequenced and assessed.

• 👉 Development Matters (EYFS Framework)

• 👉 EYFS Curriculum Map - Nursery

• 👉 EYFS Curriculum Map – Reception

• 👉 EYFS Reading Overview

These documents outline the learning goals, expectations and progression across the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Our EYFS Approach

Intent

At Eastbury Community School, we believe the Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in giving children the strong foundations they need for future learning. Our intention is for children to develop confidence, independence and a love of learning, while growing socially, emotionally, physically and academically.

We provide a high-quality, engaging curriculum that is creative, inclusive and rooted in children’s interests, enabling every child to feel happy, secure and ready to succeed as a lifelong learner.

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Implementation

Our EYFS curriculum is ambitious, broad and carefully sequenced to meet the needs of our diverse community. It is aligned with the EYFS statutory framework and designed to ensure children develop the key knowledge and skills needed to be school ready and achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD) by the end of Reception.

Children learn through a balance of:

• daily, structured teaching (including phonics and maths)

• child-initiated play

• purposeful indoor and outdoor learning

We have high expectations for all children and provide high-quality provision that builds curiosity, language, early reading, writing and mathematical understanding. Learning is supported through continuous assessment, timely intervention and well-planned environments that allow children to practise and apply skills independently.

Forest School is a valued part of our curriculum, supporting children’s wellbeing, confidence and resilience through regular outdoor learning in a natural environment.

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Impact

By the end of Reception, children leave EYFS as confident, motivated and independent learners who are well prepared for the next stage of their education. Progress is closely tracked to ensure all children — including those with SEND and those who are disadvantaged — make strong progress and are supported to reach their full potential.