In the EYFS at DSJ, the curriculum is designed to encourage children to become considerate, confident, independent and aspirational learners who are ready for the next stage in their educational career.

• We aim to build on what the children already know and can do, also recognising that children learn differently.
• We aspire to provide enhancement opportunities to engage learning and believe that our first experiences of school should be happy and positive, enabling us to develop a lifelong love of learning.
• We seek to place a strong emphasis on developing and promoting excellent communication skills, and recognise the positive impact this can have on a child’s development, in all areas of the curriculum and life in general, now and in the future.
• We aim that throughout their time in EYFS, the children develop a sense of belonging to our school community, ready to transition to year 1 the following academic year. They have the confidence and skills to make decisions and self-evaluate, make connections and become lifelong learners.

Pupil Voice 2023

“It is nice because you get to play and do maths” 

“I’ve learnt to play with my friends”  

“All the teachers help me at school”  

“I like playing in the sand pit and the home corner, and I like reading books” 

“I have learnt phonemes in Reception”

We intend: To work closely in partnership with parents and carers to encourage independent, happy learners who thrive in school and reach their full potential from their various starting points. To understand and follow children’s interests and provide opportunities throughout our EYFS curriculum to support learning, consolidate and deepen knowledge and ensure children meet their next steps. To create an engaging and challenging indoor and outdoor environment which supports learning. To prepare children to reach the Early Learning goals at the end of the Foundation Stage and ensure children make at least good progress from their starting points. To provide varied opportunities to develop and extend children’s communication skills, creating an environment where language and communication is highly valued and nurtured. To follow the schools 4 Learning Behaviours (resilient risk taker, determined self-improver, persistent problem solver, co-operative group worker) To support an effective transition into KS1.