Early Years

At The Canterbury Primary School we pride ourselves on our well established links with local nurseries, including our on site provision, City View Nursery. The transition opportunities we offer, support children to settle into school life with confidence.

We consider every child to be on a unique learning journey and it is important for us to nurture each of their individual talents. Children learn within the classroom and a dedicated outdoor area, through topics which take account of the children’s interests.

In Year R the children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which has three prime areas; Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

We teach the children in six areas of learning, which include the essential skills and knowledge for our youngest children, and through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:

• Communication, Language and Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

These important principles underpin the effective practice in the care, development and learning of young children.

Every day there children are given challenges that they can complete in a variety of ways. ‘In the moment planning’ gives children opportunities to contribute to spontaneous activities that occur during their learning time.

Children develop their communication skills through speaking and listening, phonics, reading and writing. We closely track and scaffold their progress by providing a vast range of rich opportunities to develop these skills through play

Early mathematical encounters include aspects such as weight, length, position, shape as well as number and calculation. They are experienced through practical activities, such as rhymes, stories, counting games and songs.

In this area of the curriculum, children are encouraged to explore their immediate environment and find out about the world around them. They have opportunities to use scientific equipment such as magnets, magnifying glasses, and technology, such as torches and programmable toys. Children are able to talk about their own beliefs as well as celebrating festivals from other cultures.  

Children learn to express their thoughts and feelings in a creative way. They explore the different role play areas, respond imaginatively to music and design and make creations in 2 and 3 dimensions, using a variety of resources.  

Children develop physical control and co-ordination through the use of balancing equipment and small apparatus such as bats and balls, bean bags and hoops. They develop their fine motor skills by using, beads, scissors and tweezers. They also learn about being healthy and safe. 

The children learn to co-operate with others, to share and take turns. They also develop their self-confidence and become more independent, at the same time developing personal values through an understanding of right and wrong and an awareness of the needs of others.

We use the online assessment tool ‘Tapestry’ to track children’s learning. Parents are able to sign up and access this from home, giving them the option to comment on and contribute to their child’s learning journal.