EARLY YEARS VISION AND CURRICULUM

At Ripple Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that all of our Early Years pupils become happy, confident, and well-rounded individuals who develop a love for learning and exploration. We believe that the Early Years Foundation Stage provides the essential building blocks for a successful school journey. Our goal is for every child to grow physically, verbally, cognitively, and emotionally, while nurturing a positive attitude towards school and a passion for learning.

We create a safe, secure, and stimulating environment both indoors and outdoors. Our tailored curriculum is engaging, is based upon the children’s interests and is designed to meet the needs of every individual child. Children will learn through play, where fun, engagement, creativity and challenge are key components of their development. Highly skilled and emotionally available adults are dedicated to providing high-quality interactions to deepen children’s learning, modelling positive behaviours, and guiding them through both adult-led and child-initiated activities. Through effective interactions and nurturing relationships, we support children in becoming successful independent learners. We aim to ensure that every single child makes progress in all areas of the curriculum, regardless of their starting point. 

We recognise the importance of the outdoor environment, where children can develop their gross motor skills, spark their imagination, and cultivate their curiosity. By giving children opportunities to manage risks and create their own narratives, we encourage independence and resilience. Our indoor environment supports the development of fine motor skills through activities such as finger gym, small world play, and creative arts.

At Ripple Primary School, we foster a lifelong love of reading. Children get to visit the school library and take home phonically matched reading books in Reception. Language development is at the heart of everything we do, and we actively model and encourage communication, ensuring children have access to rich, new vocabulary and the opportunity to think critically and explain their ideas.

We understand that secure, caring relationships are crucial for developing confidence and independence. We work closely with families to ensure a shared understanding of each child’s learning journey, helping to guide and support children both in school and at home. We believe that partnerships with parents and carers are fundamental to the success of our Early Years Foundation Stage, and we are committed to giving every child the best possible start to their education. At Ripple Primary School, everyone is welcome and everyone belongs.

Children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum, which includes:

• The prime areas of learning:
  • Communication and Language
  • Personal, social and emotional development 
  • Physical Development
• The specific areas of learning:
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the world
  • Expressive arts and design