Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.
At Heddon St Andrew’s Primary School, we believe that children should learn through purposeful, engaging, hands on experiences that allow them to explore, experiment, investigate, problem solve, make decisions and discuss their learning. We aim to promote a love of learning; where interests and talents are nurtured and challenged, empathy is fostered and independence, confidence and self-esteem can flourish.
As a team we are passionate about the education of young children. We adapt our interactions, teaching and provision to suit all children, capabilities and needs. We endeavour to build children’s academic, social and emotional well-being so that they can thrive within our school, and the world beyond.
We have high aspirations for our children and use our stimulating and enabling environment to challenge children to develop, consolidate and deepen their knowledge, understanding and skills across all areas of learning. We want our children to become independent, resilient, collaborative learners who respect themselves, others, the environment and wider community.
Our curriculum adheres to the guidance set within the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework and annual overarching themes are used to deliver bespoke learning to cohort. A copy of each curriculum can be viewed on our class pages.
Our Aims
- Quality and consistency across our setting, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind;
- A secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly;
- Strong partnerships between practitioners and with parents and/or carers;
- Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported.
Supporting Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
All children with SEND will have equal access and opportunities within the curriculum. The School will support these children to ‘catch up’, ‘keep up’ and experience success in the following ways (where appropriate):
- High quality teaching each day through Ordinarily Available Provision (formerly Quality First Teaching);
- Opportunities for pre-learning (particularly new vocabulary) before lessons;
- Appropriately scaffolded or differentiated work or materials;
- Classrooms and materials set up to reduce cognitive load and follow dyslexia friendly strategies;
- Children with SEND have a Pupil Passport which identifies approaches and strategies to be used which will help them to succeed;
- For children with Education, Health and Care Plans there may be 1:1 adult support in lessons.
The School recognises that while a child may have additional needs in one area of the curriculum they may well have skills and talents which allow them to shine and be successful in another and this is to be celebrated.
To view our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Policy please Click Here
Please click on the link below for further information: