The Foundation Stage - Nursery & Reception
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) page, otherwise known as Nursery and Reception. We pride ourselves on the balance of child-initiated play and direct teaching. Putting children at the heart of everything we do enables us to get to know each unique child and build positive relationships that support their learning and development.
Starting at Hebden Royd
Starting school is a significant moment for a small person. To help children settle in, we invite each new child into school for an initial one-hour visit, before building up to a half-day session prior to starting. We offer a wide range of fun and engaging activities, including arts and crafts, PE, music and movement, and a lively Sticky Kids dance session. Children are also paired with an older pupil who acts as a buddy, providing friendship and support around the school.
If you have any worries or concerns about your child, please do not hesitate to speak to Mrs. Mills or Mrs. Beevers, who will be only too happy to help.
Our parent handbook has all the information you need to get started at our school.
What do we learn in Nursery and Reception?
In Reception, children embark on a journey of discovery and exploration. We create a happy and caring environment where all children feel valued and safe and where they will have the opportunity to develop positive relationships with all the adults and children within our setting.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a unique curriculum where children often initiate their own learning through play as well as engaging in planned topic led learning. Throughout the school day children will take part in whole class, small group and adult directed activities as well as having lots of time to access the provision independently.
The Reception environment is a holistic approach where we work as one unit. Within each area of learning children will be exposed to curriculum based skills through play. Each area will have a provocation, adult enhanced provision and materials to extend their learning, all running alongside our continuous provision. As we teach children independence and structure our timetable will adapt across the year.
The children’s learning and development is taught through seven areas of learning. These are: Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design.
Learning to read and write
Learning to read and write is a key skill.
What have we been getting up to?
Somewhere to start,
somewhere to stay
Children who join our nursery at three can stay right through to eleven, known by the same adults and part of a whole school from the very beginning. They spend their days around older children who look out for them, and with a nursery team who are very good at the thing that matters most, which is noticing what a particular child needs on a particular morning.
If you'd like to see it for yourself, come and have a look round. We'll show you where your child would hang their coat.
“I love how the older children all greet my daughter by name and are so caring. She absolutely loves her buddy, who is a wonderful role model.”