EYFS

Welcome to Springwell School Early Years

Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high-quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up. 

- Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage March 2014

Springwell currently has 32 places for children coming to school to complete their Reception Year

• EYFS Early Years Foundation Stage Policy and Procedures September 2024

Early Years Rainbow Classes

We have three Rainbow Reception classes in Year R. Two classes are based at Start Point Sholing Early Years Centre and are named Rainbow Birds and Rainbow Lizards. One class is currently based in the lower school building on the main site and is called Rainbow Fish.

Start Point Sholing

Each class at Start Point Sholing has 12 children, a teacher, two grade 7 Special School Assistants, 3 Special School Assistants and 1 Hygiene and Health Independence Assistant who supports children to develop important life skills for health and self-care.

Both classrooms have integral kitchens, toilets and small rooms (snugs) which enable staff to work with individual children and small groups.

Both classrooms and gardens have been designed to meet the needs of Springwell children and provide safe, stimulating learning environments.

Rainbow Birds and Rainbow Lizards visit the Lower school at the main Springwell site, using the school mini-bus at least once every two weeks for swimming and to experience the Wonder and Magic teaching spaces. The mini bus is also used for trips into the community to experience places linked to planned topics.

Rainbow Birds and Rainbow Lizards eat their lunches in their classroom with support from staff and a Special Lunch Time assistant. There is a cook on site who prepares healthy meals from fresh ingredients for the children or alternatively they can bring a sandwich box from home.

The school day at Start Point starts at 8.30 and finishes at 2.30. Transport is provided by the Local Authority for children who are elegible and parents are also able to bring their children if they wish too.

Puffin building on main site

One Early Years class is based on our main site in the Phase 1 corridor. This class has 9 children with a teacher, a Grade 7 Special School Assistant and 2 Special School Assistants. These children also have timetabled swimming sessions in our heated indoor pool and use of the individual teaching spaces such as the Wonder and Magic rooms. These children use the mini-bus occasionally to make planned trips into the community.

This class has its own court yard and supervised access to other outdoor spaces around the school.

They eat their lunch in the classroom and are gradually introduce to the dining room as the year progresses. Children can bring their own packed lunch or order a free school lunch

Curriculum

Springwell Early Years children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage  curriculum

The children are introduced to a different learning topic each half term and staff are skilled at supporting and extending our children’s learning through planned activities and  pupil choice. We use specialist teaching programmes which we collectively call Learn to Learn to provide targeted teaching and  learning experiences .

Early Years children are assessed three times per year. We submit Foundation Stage Profile assessments at the end of the summer term to the local Authority

We use Tapestry at Springwell in partnership with parents to record and compare activities, track progress and link learning between home and school

At Springwell School our EYFS seeks to achieve the following aims:

• quality and consistency so that every child makes good progress and fulfils their potential: every child is valued and their achievement is celebrated.
• a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly.
• partnership working between practitioners, support agencies and with parents and/or carers.
• equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported.
• ensure the safety of each child in our care with excellent safeguarding procedures and welfare support.