EYFS
Welcome to the Early Years at Grestone Academy!
At Grestone Academy we have a bright, welcoming and well equipped Early Years department, where the care and development of all children is prioritised. If you’d like to take the opportunity to come in and have a tour please contact the office on 0121 675 6787.
Our Early Years department plays a crucial role in providing firm foundations for children’s learning to be built on in future year groups. Through high quality care, we ensure every child in the Early Years feels safe, valued and happy to attend school, so that they can learn effectively. 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. Across Nursery and Reception, we ensure that each child makes the best possible start to their school life in order to fulfil their potential!
Nursery
Our Nursery is a warm and welcoming environment which has recently been completely redeveloped. We believe it is a stimulating, appealing, and exciting setting for all children.
In Nursery, there are lots of play-based opportunities for children to explore, learn and make sense of the world around them. Children are able to access a variety of activities carefully set up to give opportunity for exploration and learning from our Early Years curriculum. Adults in the Nursery support, encourage, question and interact with children to guide and secure their learning.
Our curriculum is built upon themes (such as Our Body, Seasonal Changes, Animals, Plants) and each session includes a welcome and book time, and a shared introduction followed by children choosing and accessing activities set up both within the indoor and outdoor environment. Children choose what they engage with and adults focus on developing learning through these learning opportunities. Children are encouraged to explore and engage in the full spectrum of activities on offer.
Reception
As children move to Reception, children continue to learn through accessing and choosing a variety of activities and focused support. There is a seamless transition from the play based approach in Nursery, and whilst in Reception children still learn through play, provision develops to focus more on supporting learning in more specific ways. These activities and opportunities continue to give opportunity for exploration and learning from the Early Years curriculum. Staff continue to ensure learning through encouragement, questioning and interaction with children. In Reception children develop their reading each day through Phonics. We use the Rocket Phonics programme, which is a DfE validated scheme. You can learn more about the programme here: https://www.risingstars-uk.com/subjects/reading-and-ebooks/rising-stars-reading-planet/reading-planet-reception-and-ks1/rocket-phonics
By the end of Reception, children are equipped and ready to access all the provision Year 1 offers.
We currently have spaces in Reception, and some limited spaces in Nursery. Please contact the office on 0121 675 6787, or email enquiry@grestoneacademy.co.uk if you’d like to find out more about our Early Years setting.
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