Foundation Stage
"The provision for children's personal development and well-being is outstanding. Staff offer good support for children's learning and development"
(Independent Schools Inspectorate report, 2008).
Newton's two nursery classes and four reception classes create the ideal environment for children to take their first steps in their school career.
The Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum is based upon the national guidelines for the Early Years Foundation Stage which incorporate six areas of learning.
- Communication, Language and Literacy
- Problem solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Creative Development
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional development
Alongside learning the basics of literacy and numeracy, the children develop skills and interests across a broad spectrum of enriching and exciting experiences. Most importantly, children begin their social journey - an adventure which involves building positive relationships with the adults and peers within the setting, learning and achieving through play and focused work with caring and professional practitioners.
Throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage, we understand that each child is unique. Children are engaged in whole class, small group and individual activities which are tailored to their learning needs. Over the course of the two years, children begin to learn to read using a phonics programme which has been carefully developed in order to ensure success for both the most able readers, and those children who find reading more of a challenge.
The children in the Early Years Foundation Stage have an exceptional start at Newton because of the unparalleled advantage of being part of a large institution. This means that children are taught by subject specialists in specialist suites for music, physical education and French. Newton's impressive facilities enable excellent differentiation for our youngest children to explore their artistic, musical, and physical talents.
