Our Early Years Vision
At St Andrew’s, children are at the heart of all that we do. Rooted in our Christian vision, Achieve, Believe, Care, Together, and guided by “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14), we believe that every child is uniquely made, deeply valued and full of potential.
Our Early Years provision is a place where children can flourish, grow and live life in all its fullness. We nurture the whole child, creating a safe, loving and inclusive environment where children feel happy, secure and ready to learn.
We recognise that every child is unique, with their own interests, strengths and starting points. Through play, exploration and meaningful experiences, we encourage children to develop their curiosity, confidence and independence, building the foundations for lifelong learning.
We want every child’s journey at St Andrew’s to begin with a sense of belonging, wonder and possibility. Through warm relationships, purposeful play and rich experiences, we encourage children to explore, ask questions, make connections and develop a love of learning.
We recognise that parents and carers know their children best. By building strong, trusting relationships with families, we share knowledge, celebrate progress and work together to ensure every child feels understood, supported and ready to learn.
Together, we aim to give every child the strong foundations, positive experiences and confidence they need to begin their learning journey at St Andrew’s, helping them to grow, develop and embrace new opportunities.
Our Early Years Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework that guides learning, development and care for children from birth to five. At St Andrew’s, our Reception curriculum follows the EYFS Statutory Framework (2026), providing children with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to make a successful start to school.
Our practice is shaped by the four guiding principles of the EYFS:
- A Unique Child – Every child is unique, with their own interests, strengths and potential. We celebrate individuality and support every child to develop confidence and resilience.
- Positive Relationships – Children learn and develop through warm, secure and responsive relationships. We build trusting relationships with children and families, helping children feel safe, valued and ready to learn.
- Enabling Environments – Children learn best in environments that encourage curiosity, creativity and exploration. We provide rich experiences and carefully planned opportunities that build on children’s interests and support their learning over time.
- Learning and Development – Every child develops and learns at their own pace. We recognise individual starting points and provide the support, challenge and encouragement children need to make progress.
The Areas of Learning & Development
The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning and development. These areas are closely connected, with learning in one area supporting and strengthening learning in others.
The three prime areas provide the foundations for children’s development and future learning:
- Communication and Language – developing listening, attention, understanding and speaking.
- Physical Development – developing movement, coordination, strength and independence.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development – building confidence, resilience, positive relationships and emotional wellbeing.
The four specific areas build on these foundations and support children to develop a wider range of knowledge and skills:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Building the Foundations for Future Learning
Our Early Years curriculum is designed to give children the strong foundations they need as they begin their learning journey at St Andrew’s. We place particular importance on developing communication, relationships, independence and a love of learning, while providing opportunities for children to explore, investigate and develop their knowledge across all areas of the curriculum.
Through our Christian vision of Achieve, Believe, Care, Together, we aim to nurture the whole child, helping every child to feel valued, believe in themselves and develop the confidence to embrace new opportunities as they move through school.