Curriculum Intent - Early Years Foundation Stage

• At Silverwood School we believe that all children have the right to access an inclusive Early Year’s curriculum where they are placed with their peers and learn in an active learning environment. Children are supported to develop characteristics of effective learning and become life-long learners.
• We endeavour to ensure that all children leave our Early Years classes with a developing method of communication, a range of self-help skills, a variety of interests and the ability to self-occupy in a meaningful and productive way.
• We value all the experiences and learning that have taken place prior to starting at Silverwood. We use a range of strategies to ensure we gather as much information as possible in order to fully understand each child’s unique starting point. 
• At Silverwood we recognise the key areas of development that are linked and contribute to the sum of a student’s cultural capital. There is a high level of focus on the Prime Areas of Learning whilst ensuring our curriculum provides breadth and balance across all seven areas of learning identified in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.  We ensure there is a suitable balance between adult directed activities and child led learning throughout the day. Children in year R and 1 are supported by Early Years specialists who are skilled in extending learning during daily free flow sessions.  We offer children a range of motivating and stimulating activities to explore and engage with, which promote choice making and independent exploratory play skills.  Each classroom has different areas of learning including a book area, art area, sensory play, home area, small world and outside space. 
• Our EYFS curriculum is based on a set of core quality texts that form the basis of our teaching. All children will be taught pre-phonic and phonics skills and we support children to develop a love for books and reading. Each class participates in weekly book share. Attention Autism principles are used throughout the classes, and children are supported to develop their attention and concentration skills.
• At Silverwood, we adopt a holistic approach and work to support children and families in all areas of their learning.  We follow toilet training plans for all children and work with families with areas such as widening restricted diets. We work in partnership with families and invite parents in as often as possible for sessions such as Singing and Stay and Play.  

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EYFS Curriculum Map Example: An Encounter and Discover Curriculum

​We plan a curriculum based on children’s development, predictable interests and their own interests.  Through careful observation of the children, we are able to find out their interests and what motivates them and promotes their engagement.  We also look at world around us and how it is changing, and we follow current national and international events such as sporting events, Royal events and a range of festivals.

View Map

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Useful Links

Here is a link for an Early Years Activity Library
Here is a link for the Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage

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Characteristics of effective learning

​Playing and Exploring 
Children will be learning to:
• Realise that their actions have an effect on the world, so they want to keep repeating them.
• Plan and think ahead about how they will explore or play with objects.
• Guide their own thinking and actions by referring to visual aids or by talking to themselves while playing. For example, a child doing a jigsaw might whisper under their breath: “Where does that one go? – I need to find the big horse next.”
• Make independent choices.
• Bring their own interests and fascinations into early years settings. This helps them to develop their learning.
• Respond to new experiences that you bring to their attention.

​Active Learning
Children will be learning to
• Participate in routines
• Begin to predict sequences because they know routines.
• Show goal-directed behaviour
• Begin to correct their mistakes themselves.
• Keep on trying when things are difficult.
• Repeating something hard on their own; learning through trial and error.
• Asking a friend or an adult for help.
• Watching an adult or another child, modelling what to do, or listening to their guidance.

​Creating and Thinking Critically
Children will be learning to:
• Take part in simple pretend play
• Sort materials
• Review their progress as they try to achieve a goal
• Solve real problems
• Use pretend play to think beyond the ‘here and now’ and to understand another perspective.
• Know more, so feel confident about coming up with their own ideas.
• Make more links between those ideas.
• Concentrate on achieving something that’s important to them. They are increasingly able to control their attention and ignore distractions.

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Transition into Early Years

Open information sessions at Silverwood School (3 x per year)
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Pupils issued with EHCP (Education Health Care Plan)
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Consultation of school placements
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School place offered
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TISMs (Transition into School Meetings)  (Term 5)
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Visits to existing settings (Term 6)
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New starter session – Information sessions, including other professionals (for example Learning Disability Team, Wiltshire Parent and Carer Council), support with information sharing paperwork. (Term 6)
Stay and Play sessions (Term 6)
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Home visits and outreach work (Beginning of Term 1)
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Stay and Play sessions/Phased Inductions (Beginning of Term 1)
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Planning meetings with Speech and Language Therapist and other Professionals (Term 1)
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Annual Reviews of EHCP (By end of Term 2)

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A Day in the Life of an EYFS Class at Silverwood…

Satellite Provisions - Trowbridge

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An Typical Day in EYFS

AM
Welcome and Group Time
Language focus
Active Learning
Tidy up
Attention Time/Maths
Move and Groove
Singing
Lunch

PM
Mindfulness
Sensory Story
Group Time
Active Learning
Tidy Up
Story
Home time
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Assessment

​We understand that all children make progress at different rates and in different ways.  We assess the children in the Early Years Classes using a highly differentiated assessment tool, which allows all progress to be recorded and celebrated.  We have collaborated with a range of specialists to create a bespoke assessment document called the Silverwood Early Years Assessment Profile. 

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