Laying a Secure Foundation for Future Learning

The Foundation Stage at St Christopher’s provides the best possible start to your child’s learning journey. Children of 3 and 4 years of age respectively are admitted into our FS1 (Nursery) and FS2 (Reception) classes which form the Foundation Stage.

During these early formative years, children begin to make sense of their world and develop their skills and knowledge. Quality learning experiences, to provide the foundation for later learning, are therefore essential.

A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future and the Foundation Stage Teams in Nursery and Reception have worked in partnership to introduce the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework at St Christopher’s.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) principles which guide the work of our Foundation Stage Team are grouped into four distinct but complementary themes:

• A Unique Child recognises that every child is a competent learner who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
• Positive Relationships describes how children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with their teachers
• Enabling Environments explains that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning
• Learning and Development recognises that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates, and that all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected