Barnfield EYFS
At Barnfield, we want every child to begin their school journey with joy, confidence and a sense of wonder. Our Early Years team is passionate about igniting curiosity, nurturing imagination and helping each child discover a love of learning that will last for life.
We know that every child is wonderfully unique, with their own interests, strengths and ways of learning. That’s why we work closely with families from the very start — so together we can help each child feel safe, secure and excited to grow. Our aim is to build confident, ambitious young learners who believe in themselves and their abilities.
Barnfield is a vibrant, diverse community, and our EYFS setting celebrates this every day. Exploring and valuing our similarities and differences helps children develop empathy, respect and an open-minded outlook from the very beginning. We believe this enriches their early experiences and strengthens their ability to work, play and communicate with others.
Our practice is rooted in the guiding principles of the EYFS Framework and supported by Birth to 5 Matters. We use a cross-curricular, play-based approach across our indoor and outdoor environments, carefully planning opportunities that spark creativity and curiosity across all seven areas of learning.
At the heart of every experience are the prime areas of development:
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
These elements underpin all learning at Barnfield and help children grow in confidence, resilience and emotional regulation.
We also nurture knowledge and skills in the specific areas of:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
The Characteristics of Effective Learning run through everything we do. We want our children to be eager explorers, deep thinkers and independent learners with a can-do attitude — children who stay focused, persevere through challenges and feel proud of their achievements.
Children’s interests are central to our planning. We use what they love as a springboard to deepen thinking, develop problem-solving, strengthen communication and help them make meaningful connections with the world around them.
Our continuous provision — both indoors and outdoors — offers rich opportunities for children to follow their ideas, stretch their imagination and challenge themselves through self-initiated play. Alongside this, adults carefully plan focused learning sessions to extend skills and understanding.
Every day includes dedicated teaching time for:
- Phonics using Bug Club
- Mathematics using White Rose
- English through the Power of Reading approach
We capture each child’s special moments and milestones on Tapestry, which helps us reflect on their progress, set meaningful next steps, and celebrate their achievements with families.
Working in partnership with parents and carers is central to our ethos. We offer a range of opportunities throughout the year for families to be part of their child’s learning journey — because when school and home work together, children thrive.
