At Marshgate Primary School, we provide an EYFS learning environment that enables all children to achieve regardless of background, circumstances or need. Our aim is for all children to start their school journey by developing physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally while embedding a positive attitude to school and a ‘love of learning.’ 

"Where each child can be inspired and be inspiring”

Our EYFS curriculum at Marshgate, provides children with the opportunities to become confident risk-taking learners - to step outside their comfort zone, to explore the world around them, and to learn through a play-based environment.

We believe that language is the foundation of children’s thinking and learning. Our language-rich environment gives children the tools they need to access a wide range of themes and experiences, thus allowing them to continue building on their previous knowledge and create a growing and diverse vocabulary bank.  

The learning experiences within our Early Years setting are linked to the seven areas of learning, outlined in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage and our Marshgate EYFS Curriculum Overview (please see PDF document at the bottom of this page).

Areas include:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development 

• Communication and Language

• Physical Development

• Literacy - word reading is developed through our Read Write Inc Phonics and Early Reading Scheme.
• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Development Matters outlines seven key features of effective practice which underpin our broad, balanced and ambitious EYFS curriculum at Marshgate Primary School:

• The best for every child

We believe that all children deserve to have an equal chance of success and access to a high-quality education, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. High-quality education is inclusive at Marshgate, with children’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) being identified quickly, to ensure all children can progress well in their learning. 

• High-quality care

At Marshgate, the child’s experience is always central to the thinking of every early years practitioner. We know that our children thrive when they are well cared for. We pride ourselves on the relationships we build with the children and work with them to create a happy, safe learning environment for all. 

• A broad and balanced curriculum

At Marshgate, we have worked hard to provide an exciting, broad and balanced EYFS curriculum that imparts lasting knowledge for all our children and is driven by their interests. The adults intervene purposefully to draw out learning opportunities. Please see the PDF document at the bottom of this page for an overview of our EYFS Curriculum across the whole year.

   • Pedagogy

We know that our children are powerful learners and truly believe that every child can make progress in their learning, with the right support. Effective pedagogy at Marshgate follows a mix of approaches, including: learning through play, adult modelling, observing peers, purposeful interactions, guided learning and direct teaching. Expert EYFS practitioners carefully organise enabling environments for high-quality play. They make time and space available for children to invent their own play and join in to sensitively support and extend children’s learning.

• Assessment

Assessment in EYFS is about noticing what children can do and what they know. EYFS practitioners at Marshgate understand child development and can confidently articulate what they want children to know and do. High-quality and purposeful interactions between adults and children are key to the learning within our Early Years provision. This allows assessment to be effective and to ensure parents and carers are kept up-to-date on their child’s progress and development. Assessment also informs an ongoing dialogue between practitioners in the school so that Year 1 teachers are knowledgeable about each child’s learning and development, and children have a successful transition to KS1. In Reception there are two statutory assessments; the Reception Baseline Assessment taken in the first six weeks of a child’s schooling and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) completed by the Early Years Practitioners in the final term (please see the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) document at the bottom of this page - children are working towards these ELGs throughout Reception, and they inform EYFSP judgements).
 

• Self-regulation and executive function

At Marshgate, we know that executive function includes the child’s ability to: hold information in mind, focus their attention, think flexibly, inhibit impulsive behaviour. These abilities contribute to the child’s growing ability to self-regulate. We believe that language development is central to self-regulation: children use language to guide their actions and plans. The many opportunities for pretend play at Marshgate gives many opportunities for children to focus their thinking, persist and then plan ahead.

• Partnership with parents 

At Marshgate, we value strong and respectful parent partnerships and know these are key for children to thrive in Early Years. We listen regularly to parents and give clear indications of their child’s progress. We encourage parents to play, chat and read with their children – please see our EYFS class page for helpful tips and how to support further at home, and below for our summaries from our Reception Parent Workshops that run throughout the year; these are guided by parent surveys and aimed at ensuring a strong school and home learning bond.  

Half termly Curriculum Summaries are also sent out to Parents/Carers and can be found on our year group page alongside lots of other useful information about learning in Reception including 'How to support your child's learning at home.'