Look what we’ve been up to in Reception
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage with Mrs Skipp, Miss Casey and Miss Pattison
Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at Southwick Primary School, where we provide a warm, nurturing, and ambitious start to every child’s learning journey. Our Nursery and Reception classes offer a safe, inclusive, and stimulating environment in which children feel valued, secure, and inspired to learn.
We recognise that every child arrives with their own unique experiences, interests, strengths, and next steps in learning. Through strong relationships, careful observation, and ongoing assessment, our skilled Early Years team ensures that teaching is responsive to individual needs. Whether children require additional support with communication and language, listening and attention, physical development, or social interaction, we provide the encouragement and guidance needed for every child to thrive.
Our EYFS Vision
At Southwick Primary School, we believe children learn best through meaningful play, exploration, and first-hand experiences. Our curriculum is carefully designed to develop confident, independent, and resilient learners who are curious about the world around them.
We place a strong emphasis on:
- Communication and language development
- Personal, social, and emotional wellbeing
- Physical development
- Early reading and writing
- Independence and resilience
- Positive relationships and collaboration
Our broad and balanced curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and is adapted to reflect the interests, needs, and developmental stages of our children. We provide ambitious learning opportunities that build upon children’s prior experiences and help prepare them for future learning and a successful transition into Key Stage 1.
Intent, implementation and impact
Learning Through Play and Exploration
Learning through play is central to our practice. We provide rich opportunities for children to investigate, create, problem-solve, and deepen their understanding through both child-initiated and adult-led experiences.
Our carefully planned indoor and outdoor environments encourage children to:
- Explore independently
- Take risks safely
- Build resilience and perseverance
- Develop imagination and creativity
- Strengthen communication and social skills
We recognise the significant role outdoor learning plays in children’s development. Outdoor play supports physical strength, coordination, balance, and fine motor development, all of which contribute to successful early mark-making and writing. Shared outdoor experiences also promote meaningful conversation, vocabulary development, and collaborative play.
Children are encouraged to become active learners who are willing to challenge themselves, explore new ideas, and learn from their experiences.
Communication and Language
Developing strong communication and language skills is a key priority in EYFS, as we recognise that these skills underpin all areas of learning. Through high-quality interactions, carefully planned experiences, and a language-rich environment, children are encouraged to develop confidence in speaking, listening, and understanding.
Daily routines such as welcome times, snack sessions, group activities, story sessions, and tidy-up times provide meaningful opportunities for children to:
- Listen attentively
- Build and extend vocabulary
- Ask and answer questions
- Follow instructions
- Engage in conversations
- Express their ideas and feelings confidently
At Southwick Primary School, we use the SHReK approach to support children’s communication and language development throughout the day. Adults carefully adapt their interactions by:
- Sharing children’s focus
- Handing conversations back
- Responding to children’s communication
- Keeping language appropriate and modelled clearly
This consistent approach helps children develop confidence, understanding, and expressive language skills through purposeful interactions and sustained shared thinking.
We also deliver Talk Boost interventions to support children who may benefit from additional help with speech, language, and communication. These targeted sessions help develop children’s vocabulary, attention and listening, confidence in speaking, and social communication skills, ensuring that all children are supported to make strong progress from their starting points.
Developing Resilient Learners
At Southwick Primary School, we actively encourage children to become resilient learners. We support children to:
- Keep trying when learning feels challenging
- Solve problems independently
- Learn from mistakes
- Build confidence and self-belief
- Celebrate effort and achievement
Through consistent routines, nurturing support, and positive encouragement, children develop the emotional security needed to become motivated and enthusiastic learners.
Early Reading and Phonics
A key milestone in Reception is the beginning of children’s reading and writing journey through phonics. We follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme throughout Nursery and Reception to ensure children develop strong foundations in early reading and phonics knowledge.
The programme supports children to become confident readers and writers through carefully sequenced teaching, regular practice, and consistent approaches across school and home.
More information about Little Wandle can be found on our phonics page, including guidance to help support your child’s reading at home.
Reading at Home
At Southwick Primary School, we value strong partnerships between home and school. Reading together regularly is one of the most important ways families can support learning.
Children will bring home:
- A phonics book matched to their current reading stage
- A sharing book to enjoy together at home
Both books are important in developing confidence, fluency, comprehension, and a lifelong love of reading.
Children visit the school library every Friday to change their books.
Working in Partnership with Families
We believe that positive relationships between school and home are essential in helping children flourish. We work closely with families to support:
- Independence and self-care
- Emotional wellbeing
- Positive behaviour
- Communication and language
- A love of learning
Our team is always available to offer support, guidance, and advice throughout your child’s Early Years journey.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding phonics, reading, or your child’s learning, please speak to Mrs Skipp or Mrs Pattison.
Preparing for the School Day
To help children feel ready to learn each day, we ask that they:
- Arrive in full school uniform
- Bring a named water bottle
- Bring their book bag daily
PE Information
Nursery and Reception children take part in one PE session each week.
Reception PE Kit
Reception children should come to school with:
- A white t-shirt
- Royal blue or black tracksuit bottoms (no logos)
- School jumper or plain hoodie
Nursery children do not require a PE kit.
PE Days
- Mrs Pattison’s Nursery Class – Monday
- Mrs Skipp and Miss Casey’s Reception Classes (R1 and R2) – Tuesday
Curriculum
Our curriculum covers the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
At Southwick Primary School, we recognise that young children learn most effectively through active engagement, purposeful play, and following their natural curiosity. We strive to create learning experiences that are enjoyable, meaningful, and ambitious for all children.
Ongoing observational assessment enables staff to identify children’s next steps and adapt provision to ensure all learners make progress. We provide a language-rich environment and high-quality interactions to extend learning, deepen understanding, and develop children’s confidence across all areas of the curriculum.
Children are also provided with a wide range of experiences that broaden their understanding of the world and develop their cultural capital.
Our Nursery Curriculum
Dates
Return to School: Monday 1st June
Mental Health Day – Whole School Litter Picking: Wednesday 13th May
Last Day of Half Term: Friday 2
