EARLY YEARSLearning
Our learning is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage framework
Our play-based approach is planned to feel natural and fun to the children while carefully supporting their developmental needs from Nursery onwards.
For our youngest learners, we look to develop foundational skills. Every day is full of wonder and excitement as the children discover the magic all around them.
As the children grow, we place a strong emphasis on personal development, mathematical understanding, and communication and language. Through carefully planned invitations to explore, children learn concepts such as counting, sorting, and measuring during their play. They also learn to express their thoughts and feelings and respond to each other, enhancing their communication skills and emotional awareness.
| Digital Learning (Pre-Reception and Reception Only) |
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| Children explore technology through engaging activities that promote digital literacy and enrich traditional learning methods. |
| Languages (Pre-Reception and Reception) |
| Weekly Spanish or French lessons introduce children to a new language, fostering early linguistic skills and cultural appreciation. |
| Daily Phonics (Pre-Reception and Reception Only) |
| Small group sessions focus on phonics, helping children develop essential early reading skills in a supportive environment. |
| Engaging Story Time |
| We prioritise reading by incorporating engaging story sessions, including weekly visits to the school library and one-on-one reading with a key adult to enhance literacy development. |
| Weekly Music Sessions (Pre-Reception and Reception Only) |
| Our music programme encourages creativity and self-expression, allowing children to explore rhythm, melody, and movement. |
| Movement Sessions (Pre-Reception and Reception Only) |
| These sessions promote physical development and coordination, helping children to stay active and engaged. |
| Rolling Snack Station |
| Children learn to make their own snacks, promoting independence and healthy eating habits. |
| Cooking Sessions with Chef Andy |
| Hands-on cooking experiences provide opportunities for learning about nutrition, following instructions, and teamwork. |
| Pre-Reception and Reception Choir |
| Participation in the choir fosters a sense of community and teamwork while enhancing musical skills. |
| Daily Maths (Reception Only) |
| These sessions focus on building foundational math skills through interactive and practical activities. |
| Shared Writing Sessions (Reception Only) |
| Collaborative writing experiences encourage creativity and communication, helping children to express their ideas and thoughts. |
| Drama (Pre-Reception and Reception Only) |
| Through imaginative play, practising songs and simple lines, and performing in special annual productions such as our Nativity, children build confidence, creativity, and teamwork skills. |
| Specialist Learning & Enrichment |
| Children learn with subject specialists in areas such as languages, and we enrich the curriculum with special features, such as shows and experiences for Science Week, hosting author visits (Pre-Reception and Reception only), and by being outdoors as much as possible. |
| Our Curriculum Philosophy |
| Through this diverse curriculum, we aim to create a nurturing environment where children can thrive, develop essential skills, and cultivate a lifelong love for learning. At Sherfield, we believe that every child is unique, and we are dedicated to supporting their individual journeys in a fun and engaging way. |
Sherfield’s Incredible Outdoors Environment
Children spend time in our extensive grounds, where they are encouraged to be independent explorers and confident risk-takers in a safe and nurturing outdoor environment.
In our beautiful forest areas and rolling green spaces, children immerse themselves in nature - building dens, jumping in puddles, and discovering their limits through calculated challenges.
We are proud to partner with Learning through Landscapes, an initiative supported by Sir David Attenborough, to enrich all areas of children’s learning. Through this collaboration, our practitioners work closely with experts to make the most of every opportunity to learn outdoors, laying the foundations for a lifelong connection with nature and our planet.
Extra Curricular Opportunities
We have a wide range of after-school clubs for pupils in Reception. Some clubs are included in our school fees, and we rotate the clubs to keep opportunities fresh. Examples might include:
- Music and Movement
- Craft
- Sustainability
- Multi-sports
- Live Worldwise
Some specialist clubs are available at an additional cost, such as fencing and ballet.
Reception and Pre-Reception (Age 3-5 Years)
The Early Years Statutory Framework emphasises the significance of each unique child and the positive relationships they must build with other children and adults.
It identifies the importance of enabling environments that allow children to showcase and build upon essential skills. The investment and expertise from EiM will ensure that your child has the best learning experience and will be placed at the centre of everything we do.
| Child-initiated learning |
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Child-initiated learning or ‘Discovery Time’ drives the provision, alongside facilitation of children’s curiosities and objective-led planning. |
| Phonics Lessons |
| Children in the Reception class take part in daily phonics sessions, where they begin or continue their journey of learning to read. A love of reading is instilled with reading corners, re-energised and focus books introduced and shared with children and parents. This is alongside a weekly trip to Sherfield Library. |
| Maths Mastery |
| The Maths Mastery approach within the provision ensures that key concepts within number are consistently explored with small group activities. Children are encouraged to continue exploring these concepts when initiating their own learning during ‘Discovery Time’. |
| Creative Activities |
| A range of creative activities, including woodwork, are available for children. These activities enhance their physical development, support their problem-solving skills and allow them to take supervised risks. Children are taught to understand how to use real tools safely. A visit from an artist in residence also inspires your children’s learning. |
| Baking Activities |
| A kitchen area in the Reception provision ensures that your children regularly take part in baking activities. They learn a range of skills whilst planning and making daily snacks and other recipes. Children take it in turns to help prepare and plan rolling snacks for their peers on a daily basis. |
| Discovery Times |
| Once settled into their new environments, your children will have access to both the Reception and Pre-Reception settings during Discovery Times. The outdoor area is designed as a shared area and children in Pre-Reception and Reception will have use of this space. The outdoor learning spaces, which wrap around both provisions, ensure that all children have the best chance of achieving a range of their Early Learning Goals. We also make use of the wider Sherfield outdoor environment, as part of a whole school commitment to enriched outdoor learning experiences. |
| Music and Movement Sessions |
| Specific music and movement sessions by a specialist teacher take place each week and a communication and language policy underpins learning in all areas. |
Our partnership with you is essential to give your child the best Sherfield learning journey.
For this to happen, we have developed the role of the key person; ensuring that there is great communication with parents as partners. Besides regular dialogue and ongoing observations shared on Tapestry, your child will be spotlighted each term for a more detailed observation. You will then be invited to hold longer conversations about your child’s development in place of parents’ evenings.
There is also an opportunity for parents to come into the setting for parent ‘show and tell’ sessions. You could share a skill, read a story or join in with an activity, such as cooking.
Educational Visits
- Christmas Pantomime at The Anvil
- The Sustainability Centre: South Downs – Where is Katy the Caterpillar? This will introduce children to sustainability.
- Zoolab Visit (Animal Encounters)
- ‘Incredible Eggs’ Hatching Chicks
- Miller’s Ark Mobile Farm Visit
