Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

In our school our EYFS, Reception, class children start in the September in the year in which they turn 5.  The curriculum is based on 17 areas of learning which are broken down into milestones culminating in the Early Learning Goal (ELG).  Children's learning is focused on three characteristics of effective learning:  playing and exploring, active learning, creative and critical thinking.

Teaching in EYFS takes into account the pupils' interests and finding 'teachable' moments throughout the day whilst children are learning through self exploration, playing, activity, and creativity indoors and outdoors.  Through skilled questioning teachers take pupils' learning forward guiding them and challenging them to discover new skills and knowledge.  Most learning is child initiated, a small proportion is teacher led; phonics, reading, letter formation and maths skills.

Curriculum Offer

At Newton Blossomville CE school we designed a curriculum that focuses on progression of skills and practise of skills in a variety of contexts. Our curriculum centres around learning about our immediate environment (school/village) local environments (Olney/Newport Pagnell/Milton Keynes) Great Britain and the wider world.  By focusing on the same skills and learning intentions but learning different facts and information will support pupils use of skills and application to different contexts and in depth facts and information about local environments and communities broadening out to Great Britain and the wider world, building their 'cultural capital'.

We follow the national curriculum and have end of year expectations that we are all aiming towards.   The cycle centres around themes which incorporate the core subjects of English and science and the wider curriculum.  Maths is discrete, we have introduced 'Power Maths' a maths mastery approach, that all year groups follow, but cross curricular elements are taught where appropriate. Our pupils are excited about the topic themes and gain much from the enriched curriculum through the varied trips, visits and visitors. There are times when we plan learning from pupil interest, local or national occasions i.e. a child returning from a trip abroad/ a child's family celebrations (such as Eid/Hannukah)/the Royal Wedding/Olympics/Rugby World Cup/Milton Keynes' 50th birthday.  It's important that learning is connected to real events where possible, is up to date, relevant to pupil’s interests, lively and engaging.

At Newton Blossomville CE School we also love our trips, Warwick Castle, The Science Museum and Birmingham Sealife Centre to name a few!  Along with country walks, forest schools, cooking and visitors there's always plenty of excitement in our learning.

Please click on the links below to find out more about our curriculum offer.