Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage
In the EYFS our curriculum is based on ‘Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage’ (EYFS). This has recently been updated and the 2020 version has now been published.
There are 7 areas of learning – 3 prime areas (Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development) and 4 specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design).
At Moorhouse, the 4 themes of the EYFS underpin all our planning, practice and provision – A Unique Child, Positive Relationships and Enabling Environments, which together equal Learning and Development.
We also plan for, observe and assess the way in which your child approaches learning. This is done through the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ and we report on this at the end of the Reception year.
The 3 characteristics are Playing and Exploring, Active Learning and Creating and Thinking Critically.
Children participate in daily Literacy, Maths and Phonics sessions. These sessions are interactive, multi-sensory and adapted to different learning styles.
Our Literacy sessions are based around a variety of fiction and non-fiction texts. Shared reading and writing is modelled and children also have the opportunity to compare different types of texts, videos or web-based writing.
Our Maths sessions are often energetic and collaborative. We sing lots of songs and use lots of different resources to aid learning. The majority of our work is practical with photographic evidence of the activities in the children’s Learning Journeys and on Tapestry.
For our Phonics sessions we currently use a scheme called ‘Read Write Inc’. In Reception we begin in September learning our Set 1 sounds. Once the children are confident with the Set 1 sounds, they will then progress to the Set 2 sounds.
Tapestry
When your child starts in EYFS you will be given a login for Tapestry. This is an online Learning Journey for your child. You will get updates with photos and videos of your child’s learning whilst they are at school. You can comment and react to these observations and can submit your own observations of your child’s learning and activities at home. We love to see what children are getting up to and every observation helps to build the whole picture of your child’s learning experience as well as their development.
Please ensure you complete the Tapestry permission form so we can set up your account as soon as possible. The Tapestry app is downloadable on iOS and Android.
Things to Remember
- Reception doors open at 8.35am and close at 8.45am. Please ensure your child arrives to school on time. This ensures they have the best start to the day and have more opportunities for learning.
- PE is on a Monday afternoon. Reception children need to have their PE kit in school.
- Accidents happen! Whilst learning with us there may be times that your child needs a change of clothes. Please ensure that children have a spare change of clothes in school.
- We like to learn outside – in all weathers! We ask that you provide your child with a pair of wellies to keep in school and to ensure that they come into school with suitable clothing for all outside weather including coats, gloves and hats. Waterproof clothing is provided by school.
- In Reception, homework is given out on a Friday and is collected in on the following Wednesday.
- Book Share books are changed on a Monday.
- Reception children need to bring their reading book into school every day. In the morning, please support your child in taking their reading book out of their bag and putting it into the box. Reading books are changed every Friday.
Our Current Learning
Our topic for Autumn 2 is Adventure Awaits! Where the children will explore the world around them. We will be learning about Autumn, and will go on an autumn walk around the local environment. We will also be learning about different religions and festivals.
Communication and Language – This term we will focus on listen carefully to rhymes and songs, paying attention to detail. We will also remembering new vocabulary and using it throughout the day. Please continue to share books with your child at home, asking them lots of questions about the pictures, as this will support your child’s listening and language development.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development – This half term we will be focusing on developing core muscle strength to achieve a good posture when sitting at a table or sitting on the floor. We will also develop our small motor skills by using a range of tools. When changing for PE, we will be develop the ability to manage our own personal needs. It is an expectation that the children changed for PE independently. The children will continue their Think Equal learning through a range of stories, focusing on self-regulation and self-awareness.
Our Jigsaw learning with focus on the theme of Celebrating Difference.
Physical Development – We will continue with our weekly Edstart sessions, this half term the topic is Movement to Music. Please continue to support your child at home, by encouraging them to dress and undress independently. The children are expected to get changed independently for PE. The children will begin weekly handwriting sessions this half term, where the focus will be forming letters correctly. It is vitally important that the children learn to hold their pencil correctly and they sit at a table when writing. We will be focusing on forming letters correctly, starting and ending at the correct point.
Literacy – Our texts for this half term will be Pumpkin Soup by Helen Cooper, Stickman by Julia Donaldson, Same, Same but Different by Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw. This half term we will be making predictions about what might happen in a story. In Phonics, the children will continue learning set 1 sounds including special friends. We will practise letter recognition, formation, and blending skills. We will be reading blend books.
Maths – In Maths we will be focusing on 1,2,3,4,5 – We will be learning about comparing, composition of numbers and subitising to 5. Shape, Space and Measure- 2D shapes and using positional language.
Understanding the World – This half term our focus will be Autumn, we will go on an autumn walk and learn about animals that are nocturnal. We will also learn about events from the past, focusing on Remembrance Day and Bonfire Night. The children will be introduced to map work, as we create a map linked to the story Stickman.
Our RE topic this half term is Which times are special and Why?
Expressive Arts and Design – This half term we will be focusing on Art, as we explore colour mixing. This is in addition to our fortnightly observational drawing sessions in provision. In music we will explore pitch and beat, through our Sing Up music sessions, where our Topics will be Witch, Witch, Witch and Row, Row, Row Your Boat.
Learning Resources
| Useful Websites | More Information |
|---|---|
| Learners From Birth | Starting Reception – Your child’s journey to school starts at home |
| Tapestry | A parent guide for using Tapestry with information and support videos as well as links to download the app |
| What to Expect, When? | The purpose of this booklet is to help you as a parent/carer find out more about how your child is learning and developing during their first five years, in relation to the EYFS |
| Hungry Little Minds | Government website and scheme to support families and children aged 0-5. |
| EYFS Home | Fun, daily activities to try out at home, suitable for children up to 5 years old. |
| Tiny Happy People | Activities and ideas to try out at home with your child |
| Tiny Happy People – Nursery Rhymes | A book of nursery rhymes with a ‘Manchester twist’ to celebrate Nursery Rhyme Week 2020 – try them out at home! |
| Topmarks | A wide range of Maths games covering lots of different areas. |
| Crickweb | A range of games to support different areas. |
| ICT Games | A range of games to support different areas. |
| Cbeebies | Games, activities, stories and more |
| Oxford Owl | A large range of free ebooks available to share together. |
| Numberblocks | Exploration of number using familiar characters |
| RWI – How to say the Sounds | A Parent Guide on how to say the RWI Set 1 sounds |
| Parent’s Guide to RWI | All the information you may need to help support your child with RWI Phonics |
| Teach Your Monster to Read | Fun Phonics Game |
| Phonics Play | Interactive Phonics Games |
| Steps to Starting School | A parent’s guide to the skills you can help support your child in as they start school |
| QR Codes for Nursery Rhymes | A handy visual to find nursery rhymes using your device |
| Top Talking Tips for Parents | Some great ideas to help you get talking with your child. |
| Pacey | Lots of support for parents including how to help support your child as they start school and beyond |
| What to Expect in the EYFS | A parent guide on your child’s learning and development in the EYFS |
| Speaking Dadly | A superb video and links to advice on support for Dads in talking to and engaging with their child |
| Rochdale Council Events | A list of all the events and sessions going on around Rochdale that you can take part in to help support your child |
| Early Movers | A website to help you support your child’s physical development |
| Big Little Moments | Support and ideas to make the most of every moment with your child to help with their brain development |
| Time Together Booklets | The Time Together booklet is a colourful and easy-to-read guide that is full of suggestions for how parents can support their young child’s learning at home. It has been translated into 22 different languages |
| Top Ten Tips for Talking | Resources and support on how to support the development of your child’s communication and language |
| Top Ten Tips for Talking in Other Languages | Resources and support on how to support the development of your child’s communication and language – translated versions available in Arabic, Polish, Urdu and others |
| Little Oxford | An app to help support your child at home with games, activities and information about learning. Suitable for 3-5 years old |
Upcoming Dates and Events
- Pupils return Monday 9th November 2026
- Monday 9th – Friday 13th November – Anti bullying week
- Friday 13th November – Children In Need
- Friday 20th November – Non uniform (chocolate donation)
- Wednesday 25th November – School photographs (individual and sibling)
- Wednesday 2nd December – Pantomime visit (within school)
- Wednesday 2nd December – Christmas fair
- Friday 4th December – Christmas craft afternoon
- Monday 7th December – EYFS Nativity dress rehearsal & EYFS Reading Meeting
- Tuesday 8th December – EYFS Nativity (time to be confirmed)
- Wednesday 16th December – Christmas dinner day/Christmas jumper day
- Thursday 17th December – Christmas party day
- Friday 18th December – School closes to pupils at 3.15pm
WOW Work
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