Sunnyfields Primary School

At Sunnyfields, we recognise that every child is a unique individual who is constantly learning. Our aim is to create a warm, nurturing learning environment and build relationships that support, enhance and inspire a child’s curiosity, confidence and growing competence, regardless of background, circumstance or need. It is our intent that children who enter our EYFS begin their lifelong learning journey by developing physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally, while also developing a positive attitude to school and a love of learning. Staff plan teaching and learning opportunities that reflect the varied life experiences of our children, creating indoor and outdoor environments that both support and stimulate learning.

We provide enabling environments through an approach that balances adult‑led learning with child‑centred learning. This allows us to follow children’s personal interests and individual needs, consolidate their knowledge and ensure they make progress towards their next steps. The setting offers opportunities for children to experience a rich language environment, develop their ability to express themselves and engage in speaking and listening across a range of situations.

Physical activity is woven throughout children’s learning to help establish a strong foundation of movement and healthy activity that will support them throughout their lives.

We work in partnership with parents and carers to ensure that children are happy, independent learners who flourish in school and reach their full potential.

Staff ensure that children make good progress from their starting points and are well prepared to achieve the Early Learning Goals by the end of the Foundation Stage.

At Sunnyfields, we follow the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. This framework sets out the requirements for learning and development in the Early Years and outlines the prime and specific areas of learning that shape our curriculum. The Development Matters guidance supports the delivery of this framework. All learning experiences within our Early Years provision are linked to the seven areas of learning and development. These are divided into three prime areas and four specific areas, with the prime areas forming the essential foundations for children’s healthy development and future learning.

A Unique Child – every child is a unique individual who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable and self‑assured.
Positive Relationships – children learn to be strong and independent through caring and supportive relationships.
Enabling Environments – children learn and develop well within environments that respond to their individual needs and where strong partnerships exist between practitioners and parents and carers.
Learning and Development – children develop and learn in different ways. The framework ensures that all children in Early Years provision receive high‑quality education and care, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

New vocabulary and concepts introduced through reading enrich learning and help ignite children’s enthusiasm. Staff model standard English and ask high‑quality questions to deepen understanding and support language development.

 

During the school day, children have the chance to engage in activities with their peers, independently, or alongside adults in the class. Adults in the EYFS make a range of observations of children’s learning across all seven areas to ensure they are progressing towards their next steps. In Nursery, these observations are recorded in Tapestry, while in Reception they are recorded in individual Learning Journals.

Parents are well informed and meet with the class teacher each term to discuss their child’s progress in the seven key areas of learning, as well as their next steps. In Reception, parents are further supported through weekly sessions that explore the seven key areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We use learning journals across the EYFS to celebrate and evidence children’s successes throughout their time in Early Years. As a team, we carry out regular internal moderation sessions and ensure that staff attend external meetings and training so that we feel confident in our judgements and maintain consistency with a range of other settings. Assessment begins with careful observations, which are used to inform planning.

Our children grow to become confident, competent lifelong learners and good citizens. The children at Sunnyfields experience a smooth transition between Nursery, Reception and beyond. Effective communication and collaboration ensure that children leave the EYFS with a solid foundation on which to build their future learning.