Welcome
At Haxby Road Primary Academy, the EYFS consists of Tiny Steps, Nursery and Reception. Across the Early Years, we encourage independent learning and focus on providing enriching opportunities to build memories and enthusiasm for learning.It is our ambition to provide a safe and stimulating environment, both indoors and outdoors, to capture the interests of our children and support children to build on their creativity and imagination. Through a mixture of adult led and child initiated activities, the children are encouraged to problem solve, take and manage risks and challenge themselves further.. Every child is recognised as a unique individual and we recognise that all children begin their journey at different starting points and work alongside parents and carers to build upon their knowledge and inspire them further to provide them with the correct building blocks for the school journey and future.
Tiny Steps
About Us including sessions and the team
Welcome to Tiny Steps Academy!
We offer a 20 place provision for 2 years olds to begin their foundations of learning and journey into school.
Tiny Steps Academy’s is a very special place full of learning, laughter and friendships where all children are happy, feel safe and valued. We provide the best possible educational provision in a stimulating and creative environment. We pride ourselves on providing a safe, supportive and fun learning environment in which children can explore and discover the world.
We believe that children learn best by direct experience and interactions between people and their environment, through established routines and inspirational activities. We value the strong relationship with our local community and we encourage a positive partnership between children, their home, the provision and the wider community who help us to support the children in our care, to develop into individuals who will lead happy and rewarding lives.
We believe our Tiny Steps Academy should be an extra special place where each child can take their own steps together to explore and discover the world. What children experience in Tiny Steps can create strong and lasting foundations on which to build in later life. It is essential that the experiences are of the highest quality.
Sessions
Tiny Steps Academy is currently a 20 place provision, which means we can accommodate 10 children aged two to three years at each session.
We offer two session options. These are:
Option 1:
Monday and Tuesday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Wednesday: 8:30 – 11:30 am
Option 2:
Wednesday: 12:30 – 3:00 pm | Thursday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Friday: 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
A Tiny steps day
We feel it is really important that children have consistent routines every day. This helps to provide the children with comfort and security. When children feel this sense of trust and safety they are free to play, explore and learn.
8:30 | Good morning with family workers alongside TLC (toast, love and care).
8:45-11| Free flow in the indoor and outdoor learning environment alongside adult-led activities. Snack time is included within this time.
11-11.15 : Foundations for Phonics which includes rhyme time.
11:30 – 12:30 | Dinner time
12:30 | Maths songs and naptime for some!
12:45 – 2.30 | Free flow in the indoor and outdoor learning environment with adult-led focus activities. Snack time is included within this time
2:30 – 2:45 | Afternoon snack time
2:50 – 3:00 | Song and story time before home!
Yummy in my tummy
TLC (Toast, Love and Care)
When children arrive on a morning they are provided with toast and milk to help start their day. The children also have a nutritious snack throughout the day alongside water and milk.
Meal times
When children attend a full day they are provided with a nutritious hot meal in the dining room. We believe mealtimes are a very important part of our day, when children and adults come together socially to eat. We have a lovely, bright and airy dining room, where a calm atmosphere is created that promotes eating and interacting politely with each other, as a family around the table. We are very proud of our home cooking, offering children healthy, nutritious meals throughout the day.
Learning Experiences
Learning Journeys
Parents are able to access their child’s learning journey through WOW moments shared on Seesaw, which will be shared with photographs!
In addition to viewing our contributions, we encourage you to add to it by uploading photos and comments about your child and their achievements at home.
In the Moment
Here at Haxby Road Primary Academy we have a strong belief that children learn best when allowed to explore their environment and see where their imagination takes them. We follow In the moment planning, taking the children’s ideas and interests to the next level. Highly trained staff that are passionate about enhancing these key moments, will seize every teachable moment, facilitating ideas and modelling language to provide children with outstanding opportunities to learn.
This method of teaching allows staff to get to know children individually, ensuring they can provide opportunities to achieve their next steps. Alongside the ITMP, staff plan short phonics and maths sessions each day as well as regular Dough Disco, soft play and Forest school sessions. Together the balance of child initiated learning alongside the adult led ensures that all children are able to access the whole Early years curriculum throughout their time with us.
Forest Schools
Throughout their time in Tiny Steps, we offer the children the opportunity to explore nature and risk taking by exploring our Forest School area. This is a fantastic place, full of opportunities for learning, including minibeast hunting, climbing and balancing and also building your child’s confidence
Soft Play
Children can put their physical skills into action during our regular soft play sessions. This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to develop their “can do” attitude. We will encourage your child to “have a go” building on their self confidence as well as their physical skills and independence.
How to apply/come for a visit/Fees
If you would like to visit Tiny Steps Academy Provision please ring Haxby Road Primary Academy to make an appointment. Our highly trained early years staff will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
Application forms for Tiny Steps and Nursery can be collected from the office at Haxby Road Primary Academy after your visit.
Two-year-olds:
We offer two and a half day sessions. Each child is eligible for 15 hours free sessions in one week. Adults can also apply for 30 hours of free childcare if they are working. Information on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.
Families can access two year old funding for 15 hours of childcare. Please see the link below.
https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds-claim-benefits
Families can also pay for another full 15 hours to access our Tiny Steps provision. Information can be found from our school office.
Parent/Carer information – no tears policy and personal care etc
At Tiny Steps Academy we recognise the importance of parent’s involvement in their child’s development, we, therefore, encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s learning.
By working in true partnership with parents we aim to provide a stimulating, challenging environment which is a warm, friendly extension of home, where children and adults can explore, have fun, play, talk and learn together, developing as happy, confident and independent individuals within their community
Inspires – we invite parents and carers to Inspire sessions within the Tiny Steps provision throughout the year. These sessions allow parents and carers to see their child’s learning in Tiny Steps and ‘stay and play’ with their child. It also allows adults the opportunity to communicate with the Tiny Steps team about their child’s learning.
When your child starts:
We discuss with you when your child will start and how long they will attend each session. We listen carefully to your views and the needs of your child. We are very flexible with our start dates and times. All children are different – some may settle in very quickly, whilst others need a little more time.
We also acknowledge this separation can be as upsetting for parents as it is for children and so we offer comfort and patience to all during this transition time. Time spent on settling in is time well invested for the children’s security and confidence.
It is really important that children are collected on time, as searching the sea of faces for your mum or dad, nana or grandad, and finding no-one there can be really upsetting when you’re only two or three years old. We ask that parents inform us of the people who are most likely to collect their child.
In the interests of safeguarding all our children, we ask parents to provide a password at the beginning of the year for all adults to use when collecting children at the end of the session. Anyone the staff don’t recognise, will not be allowed to leave the building with a child unless they provide the correct password.
NO TEARS POLICY
We aim for children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in Tiny Steps and to feel secure and comfortable with all staff. We also want parents to have confidence in both their children’s well-being and their role as active partners, with the child being able to benefit from what Tiny Steps has to offer.
We aim to support parents and other carers to help their children settle quickly and easily by giving consideration to the individual needs and circumstances of each child and their families. Tiny Steps staff will work in partnership with parents to settle their child into the environment by:
- Providing parents with relevant information regarding the policies and procedures of Tiny Steps before they start.
- Encouraging the parents and children to visit Tiny Steps during the weeks before an admission is planned (where possible).
- Reassuring parents whose children seem to be taking a long time settling into Tiny Steps.
- Encouraging parents, where appropriate, to separate themselves from their children for brief periods at first, gradually building up to longer absences.
- Allocating a key person to each child and his/her family, before he/she starts to attend. The key person welcomes and looks after the child and his/her parents during the settling in period, and throughout his/her time at Tiny Steps, to ensure the family has a familiar contact person to assist with the settling in process.
- Reviewing the nominated key person if the child is bonding with another member of staff to ensure the child’s needs are supported.
Nursery
About Us including sessions, and team
In Nursery, we offer a 26 place per session provision for 3 to 4 years olds to begin their foundations of learning and journey into school.
Nursery is a very special place full of learning, laughter and friendships where all children are happy, feel safe and valued. We provide the best possible educational provision in a stimulating and creative environment. We pride ourselves on providing a safe, supportive and fun learning environment in which children can explore and discover the world.
We believe that children learn best by direct experience and interactions between people and their environment, through established routines and inspirational activities. We value the strong relationship with our local community and we encourage a positive partnership between children, their home, the provision and the wider community who help us to support the children in our care, to develop into individuals who will lead happy and rewarding lives.
Sessions
We offer two and a half day sessions.
Each child is eligible for 15 hours free sessions in one week. Adults can also apply for 30 hours of free childcare if they are working.
Information on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.
Our session times are as follows:
Option 1:
Monday and Tuesday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Wednesday: 8:30 – 11:30 am
Or alternatively there is;
Option 2:
Wednesday: 12:30 – 3:00 pm | Thursday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm | Friday: 8:30 am – 2:00 pm
A Nursery day
We feel it is really important that children have consistent routines every day. This helps to provide the children with comfort and security. When children feel this sense of trust and safety they are free to play, explore and learn.
8.30 Welcome songs, our special helper, check in and sharing our interests for the day alongside TLC time!
8.45 Child initiated play both indoors and outdoors alongside some adult led activities. Free flow snack is available for all children!
11.00 Foundations for Phonics
11.10 Toilet and wash hands
11.20- Foundations for Phonics – Rhyme time
11.30-12.30 Lunch time
12.30 Maths session
12.45 Child initiated play both indoors and outdoors alongside some adult led activities. Free flow snack is available for all children!
2.30 Dough disco – building our fine motor and physical skills
2.45 Hometime routines including our story and songs!
3.00 Hometime
Yummy in my tummy
TLC (Toast, Love and Care)
When children arrive on a morning they are provided with toast and milk to help start their day. The children also have a nutritious snack throughout the day alongside water and milk.
Children in Nursery receive a free school dinner twice a week during their 2 full day sessions(alternatively if they are 30 hours they will receive 5 free meals). Please see our school lunch menu for options. The children select their dinner daily with the help of their key workers. Children also have access to free flow snack daily which includes a piece of healthy fruit and milk. Children are encouraged to bring a water bottle to school daily to keep hydrated.
Learning experiences
Learning Journeys
Parents are able to access their child’s learning journey through WOW moments shared on Seesaw, which will be shared with photographs!
In addition to viewing our contributions, we encourage you to add to it by uploading photos and comments about your child and their achievements at home.
In the Moment
Here at Haxby Road Primary Academy we have a strong belief that children learn best when allowed to explore their environment and see where their imagination takes them. We follow In the moment planning, taking the children’s ideas and interests to the next level. Highly trained staff that are passionate about enhancing these key moments, will seize every teachable moment, facilitating ideas and modelling language to provide children with outstanding opportunities to learn.
This method of teaching allows staff to get to know children individually, ensuring they can provide opportunities to achieve their next steps. Alongside the ITMP, staff plan short phonics and maths sessions each day as well as regular Dough Disco, soft play and Forest school sessions. Together the balance of child initiated learning alongside the adult led ensures that all children are able to access the whole Early years curriculum throughout their time with us.
WOW moments will be recorded on Seesaw and shared with parents/carers online. Photos and pieces of evidence will be collected throughout the year and placed in a Learning Journey folder. These can be shared with parents/careers and will be given to families at the end of EYFS.
Experiences and Enrichments
Alongside our exciting curriculum and experiences, we offer extra enrichments to support and enhance your child’s learning.
Forest Schools
We are very fortunate to have a wonderful forest school area. Children can explore the great outdoors, taking risks and finding a new found confidence in activities such as climbing, balancing, bug hunting, den building, story telling, potion making to name a few.
Soft Play
Children can put their physical skills into action during our regular soft play sessions. This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to develop their “can do” attitude. We will encourage your child to “have a go” building on their self confidence as well as their physical skills and independence.
How to apply/come for a visit/Fees
If you would like to visit the Nursery Provision please ring Haxby Road Primary Academy to make an appointment. Our highly trained early years staff will be happy to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
Application forms for Nursery can be collected from the office at Haxby Road Primary Academy after your visit.
Adults can also apply for 30 hours of free childcare if they are working. Information on this can be found at https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.
Parent/Carer information
At Nursery we recognise the importance of parent’s involvement in their child’s development, we, therefore, encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s learning.
By working in true partnership with parents we aim to provide a stimulating, challenging environment which is a warm, friendly extension of home, where children and adults can explore, have fun, play, talk and learn together, developing as happy, confident and independent individuals within their community
Inspires
We invite parents and carers to Inspire sessions within the Nursery provision throughout the year. These sessions allow parents and carers to see their child’s learning and ‘stay and play’ with their child. It also allows adults the opportunity to communicate with the Nursery team about their child’s learning.
When your child starts
We discuss with you when your child will start and how long they will attend each session. We listen carefully to your views and the needs of your child. We are very flexible with our start dates and times. All children are different – some may settle in very quickly, whilst others need a little more time.
We also acknowledge this separation can be as upsetting for parents as it is for children and so we offer comfort and patience to all during this transition time. Time spent on settling in is time well invested for the children’s security and confidence.
It is really important that children are collected on time, as searching the sea of faces for your mum or dad, nana or grandad, and finding no-one there can be really upsetting for the children. We ask that parents inform us of the people who are most likely to collect their child.
Reception
About Us including sessions, and team
Here at Haxby Road, we have a 45 place Reception. Reception is one of the building blocks to children beginning their school journey. We provide a stimulating and challenging environment for children to develop their skills, friendships and personalities.
We believe that children learn best by direct experience and interactions between people and their environment, through established routines and inspirational activities. We value the strong relationship with our local community and we encourage a positive partnership between children, their home, the provision and the wider community who help us to support the children in our care, to develop into individuals who will lead happy and rewarding lives.
A Reception day
We feel it is really important that children have consistent routines every day. This helps to provide the children with comfort and security. When children feel this sense of trust and safety they are free to play, explore and learn.
8.40 Morning Starter activities including writing
8.50 Little Wandle Phonics Lesson
9.10 Daily Reading Practice
9.30 Child initiated play both indoors and outdoors alongside some adult led activities. Free flow snack is available for all children!
11.00 Review Session – Children review their morning learning.
11.30-12.30 Lunch time
12.30 Direct Teaching Session
12.50 Child initiated play both indoors and outdoors alongside some adult led activities. Free flow snack is available for all children!
2.30 Maths Lesson
2.50 Story
3.00 Hometime
Learning experiences
Our learning journey
Throughout their time in Reception, WOW moments are recorded by staff and shared with adults via Seesaw. This is a fantastic opportunity to see all the exciting things your child is learning day to day and how they are extending their learning.
We encourage parents and carers to also share learning experiences at home via this same way so that we can see how their learning is progressing at home!
Phonics and Reading
In Early Years, we begin our reading and writing journey. We are a ‘Little Wandle’ school. Children build their foundations for phonics in Tiny Steps and Nursery which means in Reception they are ready to begin learning the sounds for reading and writing.
Information can be found on the ‘Little Wandle’ website below:
https://www.littlewandlelettersandsounds.org.uk/resources/for-parents/
Reading at home is encouraged through our ‘Raving Readers’ scheme, and books are sent home to families to read with their child at home.
Experiences and Enrichments
Spanish
Once weekly in Reception, children have a twenty minute Spanish lesson, led by our school Spanish Specialist – Mrs Sadullah. The children learn the basics such as introductions, numbers, colours and animals! Our children love Spanish and knowing that they are learning another language. This is also a fantastic opportunity to further develop our speaking and listening skills, both in English and Spanish!
P.E
Mr Robinson, our PE Specialist, takes Reception children once weekly to learn new physical skills, such as hand eye coordination, movements and balancing. The children are so lucky to have a multitude of resources to build these skills through fun and exciting games! All children are provided with a PE kit by our school!
Music
Our school is very lucky to have Mrs McCartney, an academy specialist in music. She teaches our Reception children music once weekly, allowing the children to build their listening skills, musical knowledge and begin to build a love for expressing themselves musically.
How to apply/come for a visit
We welcome any prospective families to join one of our guided tours. This will allow you the opportunity to see the setting. Information can be found
Application for Reception school places are made through York council: https://www.york.gov.uk/SchoolAdmissions. School applications should also be made alongside an application pack collected from our school office and returned.
Parent/Carer information
In Reception we recognise the importance of parent’s involvement in their child’s development, we, therefore, encourage parents to take an active role in their child’s learning.
By working in true partnership with parents we aim to provide a stimulating, challenging environment which is a warm, friendly extension of home, where children and adults can explore, have fun, play, talk and learn together, developing as happy, confident and independent individuals within their community
Inspires
We invite parents and carers to Inspire sessions within the Reception provision throughout the year. These sessions allow parents and carers to see their child’s learning and ‘stay and play’ with their child. It also allows adults the opportunity to communicate with the Reception team about their child’s learning.
EYFS Curriculum
The Early Year Foundation Stage is a creative curriculum which allows young children to learn new skills and experiences through hands-on, exploration play. During every child’s first year in school, they will access a wide range of exciting activities, all of which are linked to each of the statements within the Early Years Curriculum there are 7 areas of learning. These areas are then subdivided into 17 aspects of learning.
Teaching is planned based on children’s interests. As professionals, we understand that children are more highly motivated when they are engaged in a topic which is of particular interest to them. We also plan adult initiated cultural topics to raise awareness of different cultures and traditions.
Here at Haxby Road, we follow the ‘Development Matters’ framework. From Tiny Steps to Reception, children are tracked alongside this framework to assess their learning and plan next steps.
Please click here, to see the aforementioned document: Development Matters
At the end of Reception, children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals before they move into Year One.
Please click here, to find out about the Early Learning Goals and the end of year expectations: Early Learning Goals
EYFS Autumn 1 Medium Term Plan
Throughout Early Years, key texts and stories are selected for each class to enhance and enrich their learning. Yearly spines to be added shortly.
