In the Early Years Foundation Stage children learn best when they experience learning first hand, through meaningful interactions with others, through physical activity and through play. The Early Years curriculum emphasises three prime areas of learning:

• Personal, social and emotional
• Communication and Language
• Physical

The curriculum breaks down into four further areas of learning:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

Teaching in Reception is organised through a range of approaches and provides a balance of child initiated and adult-led activities:

• Planned focused activities where adults work with a small group of children at a time. Teachers will differentiate the activity to meet the needs of every child participating.
• Small group teaching of early reading and writing through a phonics based programme called Little Wandle Letters and Sounds
• Whole class teaching for short periods of time such as shared storytime, direct teaching (for example of maths), songs and rhymes, discussions and sharing work.
• Opportunities for teachers to work alongside children as they develop their own interests in particular areas of the curriculum.