About Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Strong foundations. Enriching potential. Ready for what comes next.

At Eden Park Primary and Nursery School, our Early Years Foundation Stage is where children's educational journeys begin. From the term after they turn two in our Nursery through to the end of Reception, we provide a nurturing, inclusive and ambitious environment where every child is known, valued and supported to thrive.

Our vision is to enrich every child's potential through exceptional early education, strong relationships, purposeful play and meaningful experiences. We want children to develop the knowledge, skills, confidence and independence they need to flourish, both now and in the future.

Our Curriculum

Our EYFS curriculum is carefully planned, progressive and skills-based. Knowledge and skills build incrementally from children's individual starting points, ensuring a coherent journey from Nursery through Reception and into Year 1.

Intent: What do we want children to learn?

We aim to develop curious, confident and enthusiastic learners with strong foundations in communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, physical development, literacy and mathematics. We have high expectations for every child and carefully consider the knowledge, vocabulary and skills children need for their next stage.

Implementation: How do children learn?

Our approach combines explicit teaching, short adult-led sessions, high-quality interactions and purposeful play. Every area of provision is planned with intention. Resources, experiences and activities are selected to help children develop, practise, revisit and apply progressively more complex skills.

Adults model new learning, introduce ambitious vocabulary, ask thoughtful questions and extend children's thinking. We draw on the Education Endowment Foundation's (EEF) ShREC approach: Share attention, Respond, Expand and Conversation, ensuring that everyday interactions become valuable opportunities for learning.

Impact: What difference does it make?

Staff use observation, assessment and their knowledge of each child to identify progress and plan next steps. Provision and teaching are adapted to meet individual needs, address misconceptions and provide appropriate support and challenge.

Our aim is for every child to make strong progress from their starting point and leave Reception as a confident, capable learner, ready for Year 1 and beyond.

High-Quality Teaching and Interactions

We know that skilled adults make a significant difference to children's learning. Our experienced Early Years team builds strong relationships and makes the most of learning opportunities throughout the day.

Whether sharing a story, exploring outdoors or joining a child's play, adults model language, introduce new ideas and encourage children to think, explain, question and discover. Vocabulary is deliberately taught and revisited across stories, routines, adult-led sessions and continuous provision.

We want children not simply to hear new words, but to understand them and confidently use them in different contexts.

Purposeful Play and Enabling Environments

Play is central to our approach, but our provision is never left to chance. Our indoor and outdoor environments are carefully designed to support the curriculum and develop children's knowledge, vocabulary and skills.

Children have opportunities to investigate, build, create, imagine, collaborate and solve problems. Adults know when to teach, when to model, when to support and when to step back, allowing children to develop independence while receiving the guidance they need to succeed.

Our distinctive outdoor provision, including our Nursery's Forest School-inspired learning space and Reception's outdoor learning opportunities, gives children meaningful opportunities to explore nature, take on challenges and develop confidence, resilience and physical skills.

Reading, Writing and Mathematics

We provide strong foundations for future academic success through carefully planned teaching and practical learning experiences.

• Reading: Nursery children develop listening, attention, rhythm, rhyme and sound awareness through Phase 1 phonics. In Reception, children follow the systematic Read Write Inc. Phonics programme, with teaching matched to their developing knowledge.
• Writing: Children develop the foundations for writing through talk, storytelling, drawing, mark-making, fine motor development, phonics and carefully modelled writing.
• Mathematics: We use NCETM Mastering Number to develop secure number sense, counting, subitising, composition, comparison, patterns, mathematical language and reasoning.

Children are given opportunities to practise and apply these skills throughout their play and daily experiences, helping them build secure understanding over time.

Enriching Children's Experiences

We believe children's learning should extend beyond the classroom. Our curriculum includes carefully planned visits, visitors and hands-on experiences that broaden children's understanding of their community and the wider world.

Children explore places such as Brixham Library, local beaches, the Fire Station, St Mary's Church and the Post Office. Visitors, including members of the Police and Ambulance Service and dental professionals, help bring learning to life.

Through books, stories, celebrations, music, food and other experiences, children encounter different cultures, religions, traditions, families and ways of life. We want every child to see themselves reflected in our curriculum while developing curiosity and respect for people and experiences beyond their own.

Inclusion and Wellbeing

Every child belongs at Eden Park. We are committed to creating an environment where children feel safe, secure, valued and confident to learn.

Our practitioners get to know each child as an individual, recognising their interests, strengths, starting points and needs. We work in partnership with families and, where appropriate, our SENDCo and external professionals to ensure that provision is adapted and support is put in place.

We prioritise emotional wellbeing, friendships, communication, independence and self-regulation, helping children develop the confidence to try new things and persevere when learning feels challenging.

A Seamless Journey from Nursery to Reception

Our Nursery and Reception teams work closely together to provide continuity in learning, expectations and provision. Through sharing information about children's interests, routines, strengths and individual needs, we help ensure that children are known before they move into their next class.

Settling-in opportunities and carefully planned transitions help children and families feel confident about the next step. This continuity enables us to build on what children already know while ensuring they receive the time, reassurance and challenge they need.

Ready for Year 1 and Beyond

School readiness is about much more than academic skills. We want children to leave Reception as confident communicators, kind friends, curious learners and increasingly independent thinkers.

We deliberately develop the foundations children need to thrive, including:

• Independence, resilience and perseverance
• Listening, attention and communication
• Friendships, confidence and self-regulation
• Fine and gross motor skills
• Early reading, writing and mathematical thinking
• Curiosity, creativity and a love of learning

Reception staff work closely with Key Stage 1 colleagues to support a positive, well-informed transition into Year 1.

Strong Beginnings. Strong Outcomes.

We are proud that our Reception outcomes have been above the national average for more than four consecutive years.

These outcomes reflect our commitment to strong relationships, expert teaching, a progressive curriculum, purposeful play, rich language and carefully planned provision. However, success is about more than results. It is about ensuring that every child feels they belong, makes progress and leaves us ready for their next stage.

At Eden Park, we don't just prepare children for school. We give them the foundations to thrive in life.

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