Red Oak Primary School, Lowestoft

Provision

In our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) we are committed to meeting the individual needs of all our children. We have a 52 place nursery. It is staffed by a qualified teacher, a Nursery Nurse and additional teaching assistants when required and is intended to meet the pre-school needs of children aged 3 and 4. Parents should contact the school office if they wish their child to be allocated a place in the nursery.  Places are available from the term following a child’s 3^rd birthday.  Admissions are regulated by a panel, which meets each term. 

We have 2 Reception classes catering for up to 60 children.  To maximise each child’s potential, we use a one-point-entry system. This means that all children due to start school within a particular year may start at the same time as each other in the September. This gives them equal opportunities not affected by their birth term, and ensures they have the best opportunities to learn. Applications to start school in the September should be sent in by the January of the same year.

All children are respected and valued and we provide experiences to support their physical, social, emotional and intellectual development in a warm, caring and secure environment.

We have a purpose built area for Early Years. It consists of three large classrooms, one kitchen, and a large fenced outdoor area complete with canopy areas for all weather use. Nursery and Reception children have the opportunity to mix and explore the learning environment across all 3 classrooms and outside.  This helps the nursery children get to know all the Early Years staff and enables a smooth transition to their Reception class.

Curriculum

Through carefully planned activities, play opportunities and interactions, staff promote children’s self-esteem and support them in developing skills, knowledge and understanding as they explore their world. Children are encouraged and supported in making choices and decisions as active learners.

We offer a broad and balanced curriculum which follows The Early Years Foundation Stage Revised Framework. There are seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.  Alongside these areas of learning and development the Early Years team promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning throughout all interactions with the children.

Characteristics of Effective Learning

• Playing and exploring: Engagement – including finding out and exploring, playing with what the children know and being willing to have a go.

• Active learning: Motivation – Being involved and concentrating, keeping trying, enjoying and achieving what they set out to do.

• Creating and thinking critically: Thinking – Having their own ideas, making links and choosing ways to do things.

These characteristics underpin all aspects of learning and development.

The Three Prime Areas

Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

Communication and language development involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children are also helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development involves supporting children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour and to have confidence in their own abilities.

The Four Specific Areas 

Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. 

Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.

Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive arts and design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

Working with Parents and Carers

Partnership working is extremely important to us and we work hard to get to know each child and their family as quickly as possible.  There are many opportunities for parents and carers to come into school to discuss their child’s progress and join in our fun and informative share sessions.