Welcome to Port Isaac Academy's Early Years Foundation Stage

At Port Isaac Academy, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is made up of Nippers Nursery and Reception children. Our EYFS children in both Nursery and Reception learn collaboratively, helping to create a strong culture of shared learning. Teaching in the EYFS is delivered by a passionate team dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of learning in every child. 

Our EYFS ethos is rooted in the belief that every child is a unique, capable learner. We provide a nurturing, inclusive environment where children feel safe, valued and inspired to explore. Through play-based learning and meaningful experiences, we encourage curiosity, independence and creativity. Our passionate team fosters strong relationships, supports individual development and works collaboratively with families to ensure the best for every child.

 

 

Children in the EYFS learn through a balance of explicit adult-led teaching and self-chosen activities, thoughtfully supported by staff. This approach allows children to develop key skills and knowledge while also exploring their own interests, building independence and confidence in their learning. Pupils can only do that if we embed the right habits for learning through the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning – Play and Exploration, Active Learning and Creative and Critical Thinking. This all takes place in the context of a safe and nurturing school environment, where each individual child is known, and their learning journey is unique to them.
 

Our enabling environment is carefully organised and well-resourced, both indoors and outdoors, creating a calm and inviting space where children can experience awe and wonder. This supports effective, meaningful and impactful learning.

Warm, skilful adult interactions further enhance this environment, guiding children as they begin to connect their learning to play and exploration. Our holistic curriculum maximises opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and rich learning experiences, while celebrating each child as a unique individual. We provide extended periods for play and sustained shared thinking, following children’s interests and ideas.

 

 

 

Our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum

We use Development Matters to support our understanding of how children learn and develop within the Early Years Foundation Stage. It guides our planning and assessment, helping us to provide meaningful experiences that build on each child’s interests and stage of development. We recognise that every child is unique and, through a balance of adult-led teaching and child-initiated play, we support all children to make strong progress across the three Prime areas of learning and the four Specific areas.

The prime areas of learning include:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

These are the fundamental skills that support all other learning. It is important that children have strong skills in these areas to help support them fully within the specific areas of learning:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

 

Parents as partners

We value the strong link between home and school and are proud of the open, positive relationships we build with parents and carers. This partnership supports children’s social, emotional and educational development as they grow.

We use a digital platform, Tapestry Learning Journal, to record observations and capture key moments in each child’s development throughout the year. These observations, alongside our in-depth knowledge of the children, help us to plan meaningful next steps in their individual learning journeys. Tapestry allows parents and carers to take an active role in their child’s learning by sharing key events and experiences from home, as well as celebrating achievements and successes from school.