Our Approach to Learning

At St. Joseph’s we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and are committed to offering a range of playful, engaging, learning through play activities that bring joy and help your child to learn.

We give children the essential knowledge required to help them prepare for future success. We call this ‘cultural capital’.

Mathematics

Play-based activities like building blocks or solving puzzles help children develop essential cognitive skills, such as memory, concentration, and problem-solving. These activities allow them to explore cause-and-effect, spatial awareness, and logical reasoning.

Children develop skills for counting and understanding numbers through songs, stories and games.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Play encourages children to form positive relationships and develop their social skills. Through activities that require cooperation, children learn to compromise, share, and take turns, which helps shape their social and cultural identities.

Expressive Art and Design

Open-ended play gives children the freedom to express themselves and unleash their creativity. Whether it’s through imaginative role-play or using a wide range of materials, they are given the time and space to explore their thoughts and ideas.

Expressive arts and design encompass all things creative - singing, dancing, experimenting with textures and modelling. These activities develop confidence to express their own ideas and imagination.

Communication and Language

Play supports language development by providing opportunities for conversation (it is one of the most important skills to develop, ensuring success in school life). Children can learn new vocabulary, ask questions, and engage in back-and-forth dialogue, all of which enhance their communication skills. This is encouraged through role-play and storytelling.

Physical Development

Physical activities and handling small objects, are wonderful for developing fine and gross motor skills. Through these playful interactions, children improve their coordination and physical abilities.

Children's physical development is vital and enables them to lead healthy and happy lives.

Literacy

We help the children connect sounds and letters (the basis of learning to read and write). We spark the children's interest with a wide range of reading materials. Using them to anticipate key events in stories and talking about and using any new vocabulary.

Understanding The World

Understanding the World (UW) is a specific area of learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. It helps children make sense of the world around them by guiding them to explore, observe, and learn about people, places, technology, and the environment