Welcome to our Early Years

Here at North Scarle, children will join Class 1 when they start school, either as a Little Learner in Nursery or in Reception. The early years of school are exciting and unique. At North Scarle Primary we endeavour to grow curious, knowledgeable and happy lifelong learners, and the Early Years is where that journey for our children begins. We passionately believe in ensuring that early childhood development theory underpins our Early Years curriculum, and that play forms the basis for children’s learning through rehearsing, exploring and embedding new skills and knowledge. 

‘Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, relate to others, set their own goals and solve problems. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.’ 

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (DFE, 2021)

At North Scarle Primary, our skilled team in Class 1 carefully support and extend our children through a range of exciting and awe-inspiring learning opportunities. Our learning environments are rich and stimulating, offering an open-ended child-led approach that encompasses both the Prime and Specific Areas of the Statutory Framework. In our setting, children freely flow between the indoors and outdoors when engaging in child-led learning, which forms a large part of their day. Our team add enhancements which follow the children’s interests and challenge their thinking as they understand how children learn best (Characteristics of Effective Learning). Our EYFS team embrace and bring alive our school’s ethos by investing in the development of the ‘whole child’ through physical, social and holistic development with awe and wonder at the heart. By harnessing their curiosity, we can begin to develop their knowledge and embed a love for learning on their journey through our school.

Characteristics of Effective Learning:

We recognise that children learn best when these characteristics are at the heart of their learning. Therefore, our children learn in this way every day!

• playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
• active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
• creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

Enabling Environments

At North Scarle, we have carefully planned and implemented an exciting, enabling environment. Our environment extends beyond the classroom, to a large outdoor space as well as areas of natural woodland which we use on a regular basis for our 'Field Fridays'. Our environments are organised to allow children to play, explore and learn securely, safely and independently. There are spaces where the children can be active and areas where they can be quiet. The environments are organised to enable children to independently find and locate equipment and resources to aid their learning in whichever way possible.

Open-ended Maths and Literacy resources are spread throughout the provision, which enable children to use skills learnt during group times in real, purposeful contexts.

Outside learning is as important as the learning that takes place indoors. Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors. Our outdoor space offers the children the opportunity to explore, use their senses and be physically active and exuberant. We provide resources and opportunities for children to access the outdoors which help the children to develop in all seven areas of learning.

Our Curriculum

Our ambitious and rich EYFS Curriculum is designed to encourage curious, knowledgeable and happy lifelong learners. Our aim is to provide each unique individual with the skills and knowledge they need to flourish as members of society.

The EYFS curriculum is built on a two-year cycle as Class 1 is mixed. The curriculum taught in Class 1 is available to view in each of the subjects areas.