Early Years

Reception is the nurturing foundation where a rooted sense of belonging, and a life-long love of learning is cultivated. Curiosity is celebrated and questions abound. Children confidently take ownership of their environment and their learning, making lasting connections and exceptional progress. A safe and stimulating space where ideas and boundaries can be tested, and imagination proves limitless.

Our girls learn through exploration and play. We have a cross-curricular, topic-based approach led by the children and inspired by their interests. Every child is unique, and they will learn at a different pace. 1:1 daily reading, small group activities and our focus on the personal, social and emotional development of the girls means we are attuned to their needs.

As an independent school, we recognise the many benefits that the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum has to offer; in addition, one of our primary aims is for our girls to be academically challenged. Though the exemption has little effect on the way in which we deliver the EYFS curriculum, it does allow the school the freedom to apply its professional judgement in implementing a variety of teaching strategies appropriate to the pupils in our school.

We enhance the Reception curriculum with supplementary specialist teaching across a range of subjects including Music, Singing, P.E., Spanish, Philosophy and PSHCE. We focus on the three prime, and four specific areas of the EYFS curriculum detailed below:

Prime Areas: Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Physical Development. These are particularly important for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving.

Specific Areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Art and Design. Through these, the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

There is no change to the EYFS Safeguarding and Welfare requirements with which the school must comply to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our pupils.