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Our Trust of Schools

EYFS

Children join our Turtle Class (Nursery) as soon as they reach two years old and join our Puffin and Penguin Classes (Pre-School) the term after their third birthday. This, along with our Reception classes, makes up our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children in these classes follow our EYFS curriculum, which gives children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundations for good future progress through school and life. Our curriculum is language rich and each of our topics uses inspiring stories and nursery rhymes to underpin the learning that will take place. Children learn and hone new skills and knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through seven areas of learning and development.

Prime Areas:

  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Specific Areas:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Creative Designs

These seven areas are used to plan children’s learning and activities which are tailored to suit each child’s individual needs. The curriculum is designed to be flexible so that staff can follow each child's unique interests. Children in the EYFS learn by a mix of direct teaching, playing and exploring, by being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. At the end of the EYFS, in the summer term of the Reception year in school, teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile, using the Early Learning Goals. This assessment is carried out by the Reception class teachers and is based on what they, and other staff, have observed over a period of time. Each child’s journey through the Early Years Foundation Stage is recorded in their electronic ‘Learning Journey’ and parents are encouraged to have an input into these to share in this journey too by contributing to this, which allow us to celebrate learning at home.

Phonics at Marine Academy Primary

At Marine Academy Primary, we firmly believe that all of our children can become fluent readers and writers, the direct teaching of which, starts with Phonics. Therefore, children in Nursery and Pre-School participate in planned speaking and listening activities that are matched to their developing needs. The teachers draw upon observations and continuous assessment to ensure children are stretched and challenged and to identify children who may need additional support.

In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, children follow Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised, which is a Department for Education validated systematic and synthetic phonics programme. The programme ensures that children build on their growing knowledge of the alphabetic code, mastering phonics to read and spell as they move through school.

 

At Marine Academy Primary, we model the application of the alphabetic code through phonics, in shared reading and writing, both inside and outside of the Phonics lesson and across the curriculum. We have a strong focus on language development for our children because we understand that vocabulary, speaking and listening are crucial skills for reading and writing in all subjects.

We value reading as a crucial life skill, therefore, by the time children leave us, we expect that all children will have acquired the skills necessary to read confidently for meaning and regularly enjoy reading for pleasure and purpose. Through a relentless and rigorous approach to the teaching of Phonics and early reading, our readers are equipped with the tools to tackle unfamiliar words as they read. More detailed information can be found in our Phonics and Early Reading Policy.

Please click on the documents below for more detailed information about what learning looks like in Pre-School and Reception at Marine Academy Primary.