Early Years Foundation Stage

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 

Our youngest explorers join our Early Years Foundation Stage provision which includes Kindergarten, Nursery and Foundation learning stages.

Chapter House’s Early Years classrooms are filled with interesting, natural and inspiring items to spark curiosity and discovery. From ceramic tea sets, briefcases, typewriters and fancy dress there is plenty to encourage imagination and learning through creative play.

"Children are enthusiastic about their learning environment. They have extensive time to play and explore their ideas, increasing their confidence as learners. Children develop a love of books and develop their language skills as they share stories together."

 Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate ISI Inspection report, October 2023

Early Years learning is planned around your child’s interests with lessons built around the children’s curiosity and questions rather than a formal curriculum. We call this “Planning in the Moment” with discovery built around the children’s daily experience whether at home or at school.

We are outstanding. 

We are proud to announce that the Independent Schools Inspectorate (2023) has ranked the quality and overall effectiveness of EYFS in all areas as outstanding.

This includes the quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. 

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Facilities

EYFS pupil at Chapter House, Queen Ethelburga's

Like a detective finding clues, children learn from being inquisitive, explorative, and creative.
Learning Through Play

The power of play is at the heart of our learning process as our explorers challenge themselves and work together to express their ideas, to discover and most importantly, to laugh!

Never Miss An Exciting Moment

Throughout Early Years, teachers keep in touch with parents with daily updates through Tapestry, an online learning journal. Every child is assigned a key person dedicated to tracking and supporting their learning. This ensures you never miss an important moment in your child’s day, and by updating us on your child’s activities out of school we can together build upon your child’s interests.

Overview of the Curriculum

Within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), there are seven areas of learning and development that mould and shape the curriculum. These seven areas are split into Prime and Specific areas.

Prime Areas:

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

Specific Areas:

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

Queen’s Kindergarten focuses mainly on the prime areas which are crucial for igniting the children’s curiosity and love for learning.

After Kindergarten, children move to Chapter House’s Nursery and then on to Reception. The curriculum builds on the prime areas learnt in Queen’s Kindergarten, focusing on specific areas of learning (literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and expressive art and design).

“In the early years, positive and supportive relationships enable children to learn how to understand their feelings and respect those of their peers. Staff model behaviour expectations, and children apply these to their own actions."

 Queen Ethelburga's Collegiate ISI Inspection report, October 2023