St. John the Baptist

Foundation Stage Unit

 

Children enter St. John’s Foundation Unit when they are 3 and 1/3 years of age.  We have three intakes in September, January and Easter.  We also have three intakes for Late Foundation (Reception) when children begin full-time school, this is during the term in which they become five years of age. 

 

Children in Early and Late Foundation work and play together and have access to two rooms where there are structured areas of play provision such as sand, water, painting area etc. 

 

There are four members of staff in Foundation:

Mrs. Ward, Teacher and Foundation Stage Co-ordinator,

Mrs. Robinson, Senior Nursery Nurse,

Mrs. Maclean and Mrs. Coney, Teaching Assistants

We also have another part-time member of our team, Mrs. Crossley. 

 

We follow the curriculum for the Foundation Stage which begins when children reach the age of three and continues until the end of the Reception year in school.   The Foundation Stage underpins all future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing children’s:

 

 

  Personal, social and emotional well being

 

 

  Communication, language and literacy

 

 

  Mathematical development

 

 

  Knowledge and understanding of the world

 

 

  Physical development

 

 

  Creative development

 

 

It is important for the staff in the Foundation Stage to make learning for young children a rewarding and enjoyable experience in which they are developing knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes.  Young children learn most effectively with enjoyment and challenge through well planned and structured play activities both indoor and outdoor.  Our role in Foundation is to support and extend children’s learning in this way, in order that our children will achieve their full  potential in every aspect of their learning.

 

 

The Aims of the Foundation Stage

 

• To provide a caring, secure and happy environment for all children;
• To establish and maintain close links between Home, School and Parish;
• To create a rich, varied and stimulating environment where the children will learn through structured play.
• To provide opportunities and experiences for the children to learn and develop skills, attitudes and understanding through activities;
• To ensure a smooth transition from Early Foundation into Late Foundation, by working closely together as a Foundation Stage.

 

This will enable children across the Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception class) to work towards achievement of the Early Learning Goals.

 

We work in close partnership with our parents in order to ensure each child achieves their full potential in all aspects of their development.