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’.

Early Years Foundation Stage Framework 2021

In our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) we meet the needs of all of our children through a challenging and exciting provision that allows children to become independent learners. We believe that children are focused and engaged when they have a choice in their learning. Therefore, our timetables include lots of opportunities for children to ‘free flow’ and engage in play both indoors and outdoors. Through play, children are learning and developing many skills and characteristics that will support them in their education and future life. Further details of our EYFS Curriculum offer can be found in our curriculum guide attached below.

KNMPA EYFS Curriculum Guide

At the end of the Reception year, EYFS staff will complete an end of year profile for each child to determine whether they are emerging or expected in the seven areas of learning and development. More details on this can also be found at:

DfE Development Matters

The Classes

The Foundation Stage is divided into Reception (children aged 4-5 years old) and Nursery (children aged 3-4 years old)

The Nursery staff are Mrs Fasham (Class Teacher) and Mrs Coley (Teaching Assistant).

The Nursery children are very much a part of the whole school, joining in with whole school events and celebrations. 

Please contact the academy office for more information on admissions.

Below you can find out more about our Nursery Class in our ‘Welcome to Nursery’ booklet.

Welcome to Nursery 2023 for website

The Reception staff are Miss Moore-Haines (Phase Leader and Class Teacher) and Mrs Robson and Mrs Watts (Teaching assistants).

Below you can find out more about our Reception Class in our ‘Welcome to Reception’ booklet.

Welcome to Reception 2023 for website

EYFS Curriculum

We cover a range of exciting topics throughout the year. Our long term plans can be seen here.

Nursery Long Term Plan 2023-2024

Reception Long Term Plan 2023-2024

Nursery Long Term Plan 2022-2023

Reception Long Term Plan 2022-2023

Learning Journeys

Staff assess the children by observing them as they interact with others and within various activities. These ongoing observations are used to inform the Foundation Stage Profile. We will consider ways to support your child to strengthen and deepen their current learning and development. The more we know about each child, the better able we are to support and extend their learning further.

During your child’s time in EYFS they will have a learning journey. We use a system called ‘Tapestry’ which is an online learning journey. This allows you to log in and see your child’s learning whenever you would like.

We feel it is important for parents to contribute too, as you know your children best. The ‘Tapestry online learning journal’ allows you to upload things that your child has done during their time away from school. This will help the children during speaking and listening sessions as they have something familiar to talk about. We also upload ‘Tapestry Challenges’ for you to complete at home with your child, which helps us in our assessments of learning.

Below are the guides in assessing Tapestry through the app and how to upload observations.

Tapestry Guide For Parents – Android Tutorial

Tapestry Guide For Parents – IOS Tutorial

Phonics is a method of teaching children to read and write by breaking down words into sounds. At Knighton Mead Primary Academy we follow the Read Write Inc. scheme. Like all phonics schemes, it teaches children the sounds in English, the letters that represent them, and how to form the letters when writing. Read Write Inc. Phonics includes reading books written using only the letters they have learnt at each level (and a small number of separately taught tricky words). The children will quickly feel confident and successful.

Please visit our Phonics curriculum page for more information about the scheme as well as, support videos and websites.

The children will also develop their maths skills in the EYFS with daily maths lessons and groups. We use the ‘White Rose Maths Scheme of Work’ to support our planning of maths which aims to build strong foundations through using high-quality resources that align perfectly with the new Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters 2021 and our curriculum outcomes.

You can find out more information about this scheme of work here:

You can help your child at home with their maths skills by doing the following:

– Practice counting- count everything!

– Look at numbers – on house doors, buses, road signs, sports tops

– Look for shapes in the environment….Can you find a triangle, square, circle?

Number song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VLxWIHRD4E

Shapes song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTeqUejf3D0