Our Intent, Implementation and Impact for Early Years Foundation Stage
Intent
At Bewley Primary School, our Early Years provision gives every child a happy, nurturing and stimulating start to their education. We want all children to feel safe, valued and confident as part of our school community.
Our aim is to develop children who:
- are happy, independent and resilient
- form positive relationships with others
- manage their own feelings and behaviour
- have a strong sense of belonging and curiosity about the world
- develop a lifelong love of learning
We want every child at Bewley to be:
BRIGHT – confident, curious learners who love to explore and discover new things
PROUD – reflective and self-assured, celebrating their achievements big and small
SUCCESSFUL – ambitious, independent thinkers ready for the next stage in their learning journey
We believe that when children feel confident and cared for, they can truly shine as BRIGHT, PROUD and SUCCESSFUL learners.
Implementation
Our highly skilled and passionate staff understand how young children learn and develop. They provide a rich, play-based curriculum that blends child-led exploration with purposeful adult-guided learning.
Learning experiences are planned around children’s interests, high-quality stories and memorable experiences that spark imagination and creativity.
At Bewley, we ensure that:
- our environment is well-resourced, stimulating and designed to promote independence, exploration and challenge
- teaching supports all areas of learning and development, both indoors and outdoors
- children have opportunities for individual, group and whole-class learning
- parents and carers are valued partners in every child’s journey
We use Tapestry, our secure online learning journal, to celebrate children’s progress and share achievements between home and school. Regular communication and meetings with parents help us work together so that every child can make strong progress from their individual starting point.
Every aspect of our EYFS curriculum is shaped by our school ethos — helping children to be Bright, Proud and Successful as they grow, learn and shine.
Impact
At Bewley Primary School, every child has the right to learn, to grow and to achieve their very best. Our Early Years provision ensures that every child is nurtured, valued and given the opportunity to flourish.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, our children leave Bewley as confident, capable and enthusiastic learners who are ready for the next stage of their education. They are proud of their achievements, eager to learn and show curiosity, resilience and a positive attitude towards challenges.
Through our high expectations, nurturing relationships and engaging curriculum, children develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes they need to be Bright, Proud and Successful learners for life. Our approach ensures that they not only meet the Early Learning Goals but also build the independence, motivation and self-belief that will enable them to continue thriving throughout their school journey and beyond.
This work is underpinned by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child:
- Article 28 – Every child has the right to an education.
- Article 29 – Every child has the right to use and develop their talents and abilities.
Planning
At Bewley Primary School, our Early Years curriculum is carefully designed to meet the needs and interests of our children. We plan around what excites and motivates our learners, ensuring that every child is supported and challenged to reach their full potential.
We believe that thoughtful, responsive planning enables us to provide rich and meaningful learning opportunities for every child. Our teachers plan using their knowledge of the children’s interests, strengths and next steps, ensuring that activities are engaging, purposeful and build on what children already know and can do. This approach ensures that learning is relevant, enjoyable and carefully matched to each child’s stage of development.
Our planning ensures a balance between:
- Child-initiated learning, where children explore, investigate and follow their own interests through play.
- Adult-led learning, where teachers introduce new knowledge, skills and vocabulary through purposeful, engaging activities and tasks.
Short-term (weekly) planning follows the needs of the children and is interest-led, while long-term plans outline the progressive development of skills, knowledge and understanding across Nursery and Reception.
Long-Term Planning
Our Long-Term Plans for Nursery and Reception are based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework and Development Matters guidance. They ensure full coverage of all seven areas of learning and promote continuity across both year groups.
Learning often begins with a core book, theme or memorable experience, providing a rich context for learning that links to the children’s interests and to the world around them. This approach supports our vision for all children to be Bright, Proud and Successful learners who are curious, confident and ready for the next stage of their education.
Environment
Our learning environment is a vital part of our curriculum. The EYFS classrooms and outdoor spaces are carefully organised, calm and inviting, providing a wide range of open-ended resources that encourage exploration, independence and creativity.
We follow the principle that children learn best through hands-on experiences. Our continuous provision is thoughtfully enhanced to challenge and support learning across all areas of development.
The outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom and is accessible every day. It offers rich opportunities for physical development, problem-solving, teamwork and connection with nature.
Assessment
Ongoing assessment is at the heart of effective Early Years practice. At Bewley Primary School, our staff continuously observe children’s play, interactions and learning to understand what they know, what they can do, and what they are ready to learn next.
This knowledge is used to plan purposeful next steps, ensuring that every child receives the right balance of support and challenge. Teachers regularly adapt provision to meet the needs of all learners and to promote steady, confident progress for every child.
- We record and share children’s learning through Tapestry, our secure online learning journal, which enables families to celebrate achievements and contribute to their child’s learning journey.
- Staff meet frequently to review observations, discuss progress and plan next steps for individuals and groups.
- Where additional support is needed, timely interventions are put in place in partnership with parents and carers to help each child achieve their full potential.
Timetable
Our daily timetables are designed to give children a balance of structure and freedom.
They include:
- Whole-class and small-group sessions focused on communication, phonics, maths and stories
- Extended periods of child-initiated play, allowing time for deep, purposeful learning
- Daily outdoor exploration and opportunities for physical development
This balance enables children to take ownership of their learning, practise new skills and develop concentration, creativity and independence.
Reading
At Bewley Primary, reading is at the heart of our curriculum. We aim to develop a lifelong love of books by surrounding children with stories, rhymes and poems that spark imagination and build vocabulary.
Our EYFS Reading Spine features a range of high-quality texts which are woven throughout the curriculum and revisited regularly. These books are chosen to develop oracy, comprehension and a deep enjoyment of language.
Storytime is a valued part of every day, helping children internalise story patterns, explore new ideas and develop empathy.
Phonics
We follow the Read Write Inc phonics programme. Daily sessions are delivered in a fun, engaging and consistent way to help children build secure foundations in reading and writing.
Nursery
- Nursery children focus on developing listening and attention skills through Phase 1 phonics activities before moving on to Phase 2 when ready.
- They are introduced to the initial Set 1 Speed Sounds (single letter sounds) and begin to play blending and segmenting games through talk and song. This helps prepare them for formal phonics teaching in Reception.
- Children are grouped flexibly, and staff monitor progress carefully so that when they are ready, they transition smoothly into Reception phonics learning.
Reception
- In Reception the Read Write Inc. sessions are daily, taught in small ability-matched groups. Children learn the Speed Sounds, practise blending and segmenting, read decodable books and apply their skills in writing.
- The phonics teaching follows RWI’s expectations of progression: children rapidly learn the alphabetic code, practise blending to read words, use partner work, and develop automaticity so that they concentrate on meaning and comprehension.
- Books are carefully matched to children’s phonics knowledge. Children also practise reading “red words” (common exception words) and apply their phonics in reading and writing activities throughout the dayThis systematic approach ensures that every child becomes confident and enthusiastic early reader.
Mathematics
At Bewley Primary School, we follow the White Rose Maths approach, providing fun, practical and hands-on experiences that help children develop a deep understanding of mathematical concepts in meaningful ways. Children explore counting, comparing, sorting, pattern-making, and shape and space through games, stories, songs and everyday play.
In Nursery, maths is embedded throughout daily routines, games, rhymes, songs and play. We place a strong focus on developing early counting principles and number sense. Our children also follow the Ten Town programme, which introduces numbers through engaging stories and friendly characters that bring number learning to life. The children enjoy follow-on Ten Town activities and special visits from the characters themselves, helping to spark excitement and a real love of number from an early age.
In Reception, children take part in daily maths sessions to develop fluency, confidence and problem-solving skills. They use a range of manipulatives and pictorial representations to explore key ideas and make connections in their learning.
We aim for all children to see themselves as capable mathematicians who enjoy exploring numbers and patterns in the world around them, building firm foundations for future mathematical success.
Experiences
At Bewley Primary School, we believe that real-life experiences help bring learning to life and create lasting memories for our children. Our Early Years curriculum is enriched with a wide range of opportunities that extend learning beyond the classroom. Children enjoy regular seasonal walks around our Forest School, and exciting visits to places such as the farm. We also welcome special visitors into school, including Zoolab, the police and the fire service, to help children learn about the world around them in meaningful, hands-on ways. These experiences spark curiosity, develop confidence, and help children make valuable connections between their play, learning and everyday life.
FOUNDATION STAGE CURRICULUM
The period of education from ages 3 to 5 is known as the Foundation Stage and we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
There are four themes that underpin this curriculum:
- Unique Child
- Positive Relationships
- Enabling Environment
- Learning and Development
Within this curriculum there are three Prime Areas of Learning:-
- Personal, Social, Emotional Development
- Physical Development
- Communication and Language
There are also four Specific Areas of Learning:-
- Literacy
- Maths
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Our creative curriculum gives your child the opportunity to learn through a play based curriculum, both indoors and outdoors, with a focus on all of the above areas.