Early Years Foundation Stage

What is the intent of the Early Years Foundation Stage at Winsford High Street?

The Intent of our EYFS at Winsford High Street

Our Early Years Provision at Winsford High Street Community Primary School is driven by the needs of our pupils who join us from varied starting points and with varied life experiences.  We strive to ensure that by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage the children at Winsford High Street will be happy, confident, resilient, independent learners who embody the characteristics of effective learning to allow them to transition smoothly into Year One.  Our Early Years Foundation Stage allows children to actively ask questions, build on their natural curiosity, develop problem-solving abilities and broaden their purposeful knowledge and skills.  At Winsford High Street we strongly believe that the Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial to children’s later learning and therefore strive to give them the very best start to their education.

Implementation of the EYFS

• We meet the welfare requirements laid down in the EYFS Statutory Framework 2025. We actively safeguard and promote the welfare of all of our children. 
• We plan to develop learning across the prime and specific areas of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. 

• Our staff are ambitious for all children, and plan activities and experiences for the children that enable them to develop and learn effectively. In order to do this, staff working with the youngest children are expected to focus strongly on the 3 prime areas.
• Staff also take into account the individual needs, interests and development of each child in their care, and consider whether the child needs any addition support. They use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience.

• We provide high quality interactions with adults that demonstrate and impact on the progress of all children. 
• Staff use high quality questioning and interactions to check understanding, address misconceptions and to facilitate next steps in learning. 
• Staff act as role models to the children for children to develop their own speaking and listening skills. 
• Accurate assessment is used, through small group work and observations recorded on Learning Book. These are used to inform the next steps of learning and meet individual needs. Judgements are continually moderated as a team. 
• We develop an engaging environment that is set up so that children can access all areas of learning both inside and outside of the classroom.  
• We provide challenges for child-initiated activities that enhance children’s learning and impact on progress. 
• Children are immersed in a language rich environment. 
• Weekly home learning opportunities allowing parents to build on their child’s school experiences, at home are provided. 
• We respond to the needs and interests of the children through mini-topics and enhancements to the learning environment.  
• Educational visits are organised to provide rich, first-hand experiences to all children. 
• Specific targeted interventions are used to support those in need of additional support including the use of WELLCOMM for speech and language development.  
• We aim to work collaboratively with parents. We provide regular parent workshops related to the specific areas of learning of Maths and Literacy. Parent contributions to Learning Book and WOW cards are encouraged and celebrated.  
• All children benefit from outdoor learning sessions to support all areas of the EYFS curriculum, risk taking and the promotion of mental health and well-being.  
• Literacy is planned using ‘Pathways to Write’ and ‘Drawing Club’. Literacy opportunities are also promoted in all areas of our continuous provision where applicable.  Our Literacy planning is heavily story based with texts chosen for their level of challenge and quality language. The use of age appropriate stories allows us to create ‘hook’ lessons which further promote our children’s enjoyment, willingness and pleasure for reading.  
• Phonics is taught daily using ‘Read Write Inc’. Children are grouped in fluid groups to meet their current needs and provide a necessary level of challenge. 
• Maths is taught based on an approach to develop mathematical reasoning and fluency designed to give children a secure foundation of mathematical concepts ready for their transition into Year 1.  Our maths curriculum has been developed following work with the Cheshire and Wirral Maths Hub.  
• Development matters is used as a guide for planning and assessment alongside the Early Learning Goals. 
• Assessment judgements are made from accumulative observations and in-depth knowledge of the children through one to one and small group tasks. These ongoing assessments are used to inform planning and next steps in teaching and learning for all children throughout the year.  

• Where a child may have a special educational need or disability (SEND), staff consider whether specialist support is required, linking with relevant services from other agencies, where appropriate.
• In planning and guiding the children’s activities, staff reflect on the different rates at which children are developing, and take these into account.

• “The curriculum is designed well, including in the early years.” OFSTED Report February 2023

Impact of our EYFS

• As a result of our EYFS curriculum the children of Winsford High Street are motivated to learn, confident and resilient.   
• The children acquire knowledge about the wider world and gain first hand experiences to create memories and make links with previous learning and as a basis for future learning.  
• The children make good progress over their time in our EYFS from often low starting points. Many children enter our Nursery and Reception classes with significant speech and language difficulties. Children make rapid progress with their language difficulties with the support of WELLCOMM and speech interventions.  
• “Children make a strong start to their education in the Nursery and Reception classes. They receive a high level of care. This helps to develop their confidence and independence. Children develop their early literacy, numeracy, and social skills through well-planned activities. Children in the early years learn and achieve well.” OFSTED February 2023

Click here to find the Curriculum Overviews for Reception 

Click here to find the Curriculum Overviews for Nursery