St. Teresa of Lisieux



	Foundation stage Curriculum at Foundation stage Welcome to St. Teresa of Lisieux Foundation Stage Our Aims. We aim to:- -provide a positive start to educational life enabling children to enjoy learning. -help children to become independent learners -help all children to reach their full potential in all areas. -provide a safe and stimulating environment where achievement is celebrated. Our partnership with parents/carers. As parents/carers you are your child’s first educators and will continue to be a strong influence on their development. When your child begins nursery/school there is the opportunity for an important partnership to be started between the adults in the home and the adults in the school. Partnership is a two way process with knowledge and information flowing freely both ways. Our parent/carer notice board and letters home will keep you informed about the curriculum and other matters of interest. There will be courses through the year run for parents who wish support their child’s learning. You are very welcome to join these courses. The staff member responsible for parental involvement is Mrs S. Seddon (Nursery). Behaviour We have a very positive approach to behaviour management and acts of kindness and thoughtfulness are praised and encouraged. Children behaving inappropriately have their behaviour explained to them: how it affects themselves and others and how it makes others feel. A short time-out period may be given. Parent/carers will be informed of really inappropriate behaviour. By working together as a partnership, parents/carers and staff may easily resolve any problems that may arise. Equal Opportunities It is the policy of this school to treat all children with the same respect regardless of gender, academic ability, race or colour and to present all children with equal learning opportunities. While the atmosphere and ethos of this school is essentially Christian, acceptance of the beliefs of others is encouraged. Special Needs The special needs co-ordinator is responsible for developing and implementing the school policy on special needs. The school has clear procedures for identifying children who have special educational needs; these can be short or long term and relate to various aspects of the child’s development. The needs are identified and addressed as early as possible. They are carefully monitored and regularly reviewed. Parents are kept informed at all stages and if necessary external agencies will be approached on the child’s behalf. The staff member responsible for special needs is Mrs C.Kelly. Health and Safety The school nurse visits school and children in the reception year have a health care interview to discuss any issues with the parents. Please do not bring your child to school if they are ill or on medication. If we are concerned about your child’s health during the day we will contact you so please ensure that we have at least 2 emergency numbers. It is the school policy not to administer medication to the children, if your child has an inhaler then you must fill in a consent form and school staff will supervise your child. Parents are welcome to come to school to administer medicines to their children. Please let us know if your child is allergic to anything. This will enable us to make appropriate provision for your child. In the interests of safety and in accordance with Local Education policy, jewellery should not be worn for school. During hot weather could you please cover any exposed skin with sun block or a high protection sunscreen as the children may spend long periods outdoors at times. Parents/carers should be aware that the school will take any reasonable action to ensure the safety of its pupils. In cases where the school has reason to be concerned that a child may be subject to ill treatment, neglect or other forms of abuse, staff will have no alternative but to follow Liverpool Child Protection Manual procedures and inform Social Services of their concern. School Uniform Nursery children do not have to wear school uniform. They are allowed to wear a school sweatshirt if parents wish them to. These can be purchased from the school. Please make sure that all items of clothing are marked with your child’s name. Charging policy Cultural trips and visitors to school are funded on a voluntary basis. If we do not receive the donations to cover the trips etc then they would be cancelled. We ask for your support. You will be asked to give written consent to allow your child to go on school trips. Snack Money Each day the children will have a snack at breaktime, biscuits or toast. Please send in 50p for snack money on Monday. School Levy In accordance with the wishes of the Archdiocese we collect a levy of £4.50 from each child. This money is used for the building and refurbishment of our Catholic schools. This can be paid in 3 instalments of £1.50 each term. Nursery times Morning nursery 09:00 to 11:30 Afternoon nursery 12:30 to 14:55 Reception school day – 09:00 to 15:05 The Foundation Stage Curriculum The curriculum guidance for the foundation stage states that, ‘the curriculum for the foundation stage should underpin all future learning’. The foundation stage prepares children for learning in key stage one and is consistent with the national curriculum. The foundation stage guidance identifies ‘stepping stones’ of progress towards the early learning goals. The early learning goals establish the expectations for most children to reach by the end of the foundation stage. The early learning goals for communication, language and literacy and for mathematical development are in line with the objectives in the framework for teaching literacy and mathematics. During the reception year time on the literacy and numeracy lesson is increased gradually to include the full literacy and numeracy lesson by the summer term. There are six areas of learning for the foundation stage. 1. Personal, social and emotional development. A turn taking activity Personal, social and emotional development is critical for very young children in all aspects of their lives and gives them the best opportunity for success in all other areas of learning. Children will learn how to work, play, co-operate with others and function in a group beyond the family. Children should feel safe, secure, respect themselves and others and develop a positive self image. Children learn about relationships and the importance of friendship. They learn of their own and other cultures and develop problem solving skills and a positive disposition to learn. 2. Communication, language and literacy. Learning to spell words Communication, language and literacy depend on learning and being competent in a number of key skills, together having the confidence, opportunity, encouragement, support and disposition to use them. This area of learning includes communication, speaking and listening in different situations and for different purposes, being read a wide range of books and reading simple texts and writing for a variety of purposes. Children are given opportunities to speak and listen and respect ideas in their activities. Communication, language and literacy are used in every part of the curriculum. Children develop language and provide the foundation for literacy. They develop competence in speaking and listening and in becoming readers and writers. 3. Mathematical development. A shape matching game Mathematical development depends on becoming confident and competent in learning and using key skills. This area of learning includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships and working with numbers, shapes, space and measure. Mathematical development is developed through stories, games and imaginative play, so that children enjoy using and experimenting with numbers, including numbers larger than 10. 4. Knowledge and understanding of the world. In this area of learning, children are developing the crucial knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. This forms the foundation for later work in science, design and technology, history, geography and information and communication technology (ICT). Children learn through practical activities, interaction with each other and with adults. They learn by gathering information, by direct teaching and using indoor, outdoor environments and the local neighbourhood. Children develop knowledge and understanding of the environment, features of the natural and man made world. They will begin to understand themselves, other people, their own culture and other cultures. 5. Physical development. Physical development in the foundation stage is about improving skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Physical development has two other very important aspects. It helps children to gain confidence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active. Effective physical development helps children to develop a positive sense of well being. Children are given time to explore, experiment and refine movements within a safe, planned and resourced learning environment. 6. Creative development. Creativity is fundamental to successful learning. Being creative enables children to make connections between one area of learning and another and to extend their understanding. This area of learning includes art, music, dance, role play and imaginative play. Children have time to explore and experiment with ideas, materials and activities and should feel secure to try new experiences and ways of doing things. Children learn through all of their senses. Assessment and reporting. On entry to nursery each child is assessed against the yellow stepping stones. Assessment is an ongoing process. You will be consulted throughout the year on your child’s progress and to share information about your child. Each child’s work and development is assessed by their class teachers. The foundation stage profile is completed by the end of reception. The children’s progress is reported to parents 3 times a year, twice orally and in an end of year written report. Homework Foundation stage pupils do not receive formal homework as it is inappropriate for very young children. Staff will offer advice on how to help your child to learn at home. The importance of play. Play is an important aspect of children’s learning. Play enables children to discover more about themselves, other people, objects and materials. It is the natural way in which children learn. Just as the scientist tests and explores ideas in the laboratory, so children, in their play build up their understanding and knowledge. This leads to discovery through exploration. Teachers plan and provide play opportunities to ensure that children learn in ways appropriate to their levels of development. Children learn through play, by interacting with others and by having concrete practical experiences – both structured and unstructured. Teaching and Learning Teaching means systematically helping children to learn so that they are helped to make connections in their learning and are actively led forward, as well as helped to reflect on what they have already learnt. Learning for young children is a rewarding and enjoyable experience in which they explore, investigate, discover, create, practise, rehearse, respect, revise and consolidate their developing knowledge, skills understanding and attitudes. Activities are based on first-hand experiences that encourage exploration, observation, problem solving, prediction, critical thinking, decision making and discussion. Children are helped to become aware of, explore and question issues of differences in gender, ethnicity, language, religion and of special educational needs and disability issues. All children do not learn in one area at a time only. One activity may develop a number of competences, skills and concepts across several areas of learning. Our Foundation Stage Team Nursery Teaching Staff :- Mrs. C. Kelly Mrs. S. Seddon Nursery Nurses :- Mrs. A. Mills Miss. S. Pollard Reception Teaching Staff :- Mrs. T. Cowpland Mrs. V. Gillin Mrs. J. Saddler Classroom Assistants :- Mrs. J. Forster Mrs. C. Hayes

St. Teresa of Lisieux Utting Avenue East, Norris Green Liverpool, L11 1DB website designed by: Steven Macilwee