Early Years
Our Early Years consists of Nursery (3-4yrs) and Reception (4-5yrs) classrooms. Bright and open spaces provide our children with a rich, safe and stimulating learning environment.
At Lily Lane, we are committed to providing a broad, balanced, and engaging curriculum for children in the Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS). We follow the Development Matters Framework, which guides the way we assess and support children’s learning and development.
What is EYFS?
The Early Years and Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a crucial stage in a child’s life. It is during this time that children develop the foundations for future learning, social interaction, and overall development. At Lily Lane, we ensure that each child receives the support and opportunities they need to thrive during this important stage.
Our EYFS curriculum is designed around the 7 key areas of learning from the Development Matters framework:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
We focus on nurturing children's confidence, resilience, and independence. This includes developing positive relationships, understanding their emotions, and learning to respect others.
Physical Development
We provide a range of activities to support both gross and fine motor skills, ensuring that children can develop coordination, control, and movement.
Communication and Language
Through stories, conversations, and interactive activities, we foster a rich environment where children can develop listening, speaking, and understanding skills.
Literacy
Children are introduced to reading and writing in a playful, engaging manner. Phonics, stories, and mark-making activities help build early literacy skills.
Mathematics
Through play, children explore numbers, shapes, space, and measures. They learn to count, recognise patterns, and solve simple problems in a practical context.
Understanding the World
We encourage curiosity by allowing children to explore their environment, learn about people and communities, and understand the world through hands-on experiences.
Expressive Arts and Design
Creativity is nurtured through art, music, role play, and other creative activities, allowing children to express themselves and develop imagination.
Learning Through Play
At Lily Lane, we recognise that young children learn best through play. Our structured play activities are designed to promote exploration, discovery, and social interaction, helping children make sense of the world around them. Through play, children develop essential skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and cooperation.
Targeted Teaching Time
In addition to play, we have dedicated teaching time where essential skills are introduced and reinforced. This helps children build on their existing knowledge and ensures they are continuously progressing throughout the year. These sessions are carefully designed to be both fun and educational, meeting the developmental needs of each child.
Progression and Assessment
We use the Development Matters Framework not only to assess children’s development but also to guide our teaching. Each area of learning has its own progression pathway, ensuring that children are challenged appropriately and are making steady progress. We regularly assess children’s progress and adapt our teaching to meet their individual needs, ensuring that every child is given every opportunity to succeed.
Supporting Every Child
We believe that all children, regardless of their starting point, deserve the opportunity to succeed. By closely tracking each child’s development and providing tailored support, we ensure that every child can reach their full potential. This personalised approach helps children to gain confidence, develop independence, and build a strong foundation for future learning.
How to Support your child at home
We value the partnership between school and home. Here are a few ways parents and carers can support their child’s learning:
Encourage play at home, especially through creative activities such as drawing, building, or imaginative role-play.
Share books together, ask questions about the story, and encourage your child to retell the story in their own words.
Practice counting objects, identifying shapes, and discussing the world around them.
Support social skills by arranging playdates or encouraging cooperation during play.
Here at Lily Lane, we are passionate about creating a nurturing, stimulating environment where every child can develop the skills and confidence they need for the future. We believe that our broad, balanced curriculum, combined with our focus on play and progression, ensures that each child has the best possible start to their educational journey.