At Bletchingley, we are committed to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience the very best possible start to their education. We aim to provide high quality, meaningful, broad and balanced learning opportunities that meet the needs and interests of our children, in a context relevant to them, as unique individuals who learn in different ways and at different rates. Our holistic approach will provide children with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make sense of their world- encouraging a love of learning, so all children can reach their potential and become successful, confident lifelong learners.

Please find our Curriculum: Intent, Implementation and Impact statement here. 

OUR CURRICULUM

Our curriculum meets the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework, drawing upon Development Matters 2021. It is developed around seven areas of learning and development that are important and interconnected- three ‘prime areas’ and four ‘specific areas’. The ‘prime areas’ are particularly important for igniting curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building children’s capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. The ‘specific areas’ include essential skills and knowledge and allow opportunities for the prime areas to be strengthened and applied.

Prime Areas:

✓ Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding, and Speaking).

✓ Personal, Social and Emotional Development (Self-Regulation, Managing Self, and Building Relationships).

✓ Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills and Fine Motor Skills).

Specific Areas:

✓ Literacy (Comprehension, Word Reading, and Writing).

✓ Mathematics (Number, and Numerical Patterns).

✓ Understanding the World (Past and Present, People, Culture and Communities, and The Natural World).

✓ Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials and Being Imaginative and Expressive).

Our Reception curriculum is outlined in our Long Term Planning document. Our long-term plan is split into six half-termly, cross-curricular topics. The curriculum maps that outline learning within each topic are available here. Our Nursery curriculum follows a two year rolling cycle of cross-curricular topics. This yearly overview will be available shortly. 

TRANSITION INTO NURSERY AND RECEPTION 

Transition is carefully planned to ensure a smooth transition for children into our Nursery and Reception classes.  Children and parents/carers need to feel secure and confident to face the new challenges of starting school/nursery and the significant changes as they progress through their school life. We recognise that children are vulnerable at stages of transition. We implement a range of strategies and activities to ensure a smooth and happy transition, including stay and play sessions, home visits, visits to previous early years settings, story times and induction sessions. 

To find out more about admissions into our Nursery, please contact g.marks@bletchingleytlt.co.uk or visit our Nursery page. To find out more about admissions into our Reception, please contact info@bletchingleytlt.co.uk or visit our Admissions page. 

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS 

We always encourage parental involvement in the children’s learning and welcome knowing what the children achieve at home. As a way of sharing this from home to school, we use Tapestry as our main means of communication. Tapestry enables each child to have a personal journal which builds over time.  As a parent/carer, Tapestry also allows you to contribute to this growing journal by commenting on your child's observations, or even adding your own-Have they learnt to ride a bike? Have they been somewhere exciting? Have they got a new sporting certificate they'd like to share?

For more information on Tapestry, please follow this link: Parents & Carers | Tapestry and see the ‘Tapestry Guide for Parents / Carers’.