Early Years

Early Years (Ages 2½ to 5)

Oaklands School’s Early Years Foundation Stage includes Lower Kindergarten, Upper Kindergarten and Reception. Children can begin school from 2½ years and are able to attend on a part-time or full-time basis during the Kindergarten Years. School is full-time from the start of Reception.

The Early Years Department nurtures the children’s desire to learn, experiment, play and gain independence. Our curriculum is designed to develop each child’s emotional, social, physical and creative skills. We encourage children to learn freely in a structured and stimulating environment. They are taught to listen to others and express their own ideas, and we place high emphasis on kindness, helpfulness, sharing, courtesy and respect for others.

Children are happy at Oaklands and enjoy their activities.  They develop independence and understand the importance of physical exercise, healthy food and personal hygiene. The outside facilities are outstanding with dedicated areas for play that include all-weather surfaces, playgrounds and an adventure playground.

The area is led by Mrs Potts, Head of Early Years, who ensures that staff consistently demonstrate high expectations of children both in terms of behaviour and learning.

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Early Years School Life

The doors open at 8.30am, with the school day officially beginning at 8.45am and ending at 3pm. Our Lower Kindergarten children attend a minimum of three morning sessions and Upper Kindergarten children attend a minimum of five sessions, 3 of which should ideally be mornings. Lower and Upper Kindergarten have the option of staying for lunch and afternoon sessions. Many of our Early Years children start earlier with Breakfast Club or stay later with Teatime Club. Reception children attend five full days.

We provide a mid-morning snack and a nourishing lunch is freshly prepared and cooked on site by the Chartwells catering team.  The children develop their social skills as they eat together. Use of cutlery and tasting the wide range of healthy food provided is encouraged and our staff help the children to cut up their food.

Most groups spend the afternoons participating in creative activities designed to develop their imagination, curiosity and knowledge of the world around them. There are various after school clubs for our Reception children.

Early Years Learning and Teaching

All the children in the Early Years Department follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS).  There are seven areas of learning which include three prime and four specific areas:-

Prime Areas:

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

Specific Areas:

• Mathematics
• Literacy
• Expressive Arts and Design
• Understanding the World

In both Lower Kindergarten and Upper Kindergarten classes pre-reading, writing and number activities are taught and the children are helped to discover and investigate through art, craft and environmental activities.

Specialist teaching in a number of areas greatly enhances the curriculum. We use the seven curriculum areas as the basic level and enrich the children’s experiences through a range of other activities including weekly Dance, Music and PE lessons together with assemblies, performances, trips and outings. Reception children also receive French and ICT lessons. All children participate in Wild Woods sessions in our own woodland area.