At Sir Edmund Hillary Academy, we believe every child deserves a happy, exciting and memorable start to their educational journey. We are committed to providing rich learning experiences that inspire curiosity, spark imagination and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Our Early Years curriculum is ambitious, inclusive and carefully designed to ensure that every child can thrive. Through a balance of adult-led teaching and purposeful play, we nurture confident, independent learners who are eager to explore, discover and achieve their very best.
We are proud to provide a warm, safe and nurturing environment where children feel valued, develop a strong sense of belonging and become an important part of our school community. Our CLIMB values of Courage, Learning, Including, Mindful and Building are woven throughout everyday experiences, helping children develop positive relationships and strong personal qualities.
Communication and language development are at the heart of our Early Years provision. We provide a language-rich environment where children are encouraged to talk, listen, question and share their ideas with confidence. Reading is a key priority from the very beginning, and children learn to read through our chosen phonics programme, Little Wandle Letters giving them the strong foundations they need for future success.
By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, our children are confident, capable and caring learners who are ready for the next stage of their education. They leave Reception with the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm needed to flourish in Year 1 and beyond, carrying with them a love of learning and a belief in their own potential.
“Aiming High, Climbing Together”
Our EYFS curriculum is built around seven areas of learning:
Prime areas
Specific areas
These areas work together to ensure children develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to thrive both academically and socially.
Each half term, we plan themed activities based on what we want the children to know, understand and do. The children are taught through a combination of adult-led and teacher taught sessions and through an extensive range of continuous provision opportunities. This approach encourages children to develop their independent learning with curiosity.
Our carefully designed learning environments provide opportunities for children to learn both inside and outside the classroom. Children can make choices, take risks, solve problems and develop their understanding through engaging activities that support all areas of learning.
We carefully monitor each child’s progress through observations, conversations and assessment activities. This allows us to understand every child’s strengths, identify next steps and ensure they receive the support and challenge they need.
To ensure pupils have achieved their early learning goals we collect a bank of evidence throughout the year using pupil’s learning workbooks.
Preparing Children for the Future
Our ambition is for every child to leave Reception as a confident, resilient and independent learner who is ready for the next stage of their education.
By the time children move into Year 1, they will have developed strong foundations in learning, communication, social skills and personal development, equipping them with the knowledge, confidence and enthusiasm to succeed.
