Rift House Early Years
Early Years Framework
Every child in the Early Years deserves the best possible start in life that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and their experiences between birth and aged five have a major impact on their future life chances.
The Early Years Foundation Stage at Rift House seeks to provide:
QUALITY AND CONSISTENCY to ensure that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind.
A SECURE FOUNDATION through planning for the learning and development of each individual, child assessing and reviewing regularly.
PARTNERSHIP WORKING between practitioners and with parents and/or carers.
EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY ensuring that every child is included and supported.
The learning and development requirements within the Early Years covers the 7 areas of learning.
PRIME AREAS
Communication and Language
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
SPECIFIC AREAS
Literacy
Maths
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Through the planning, teaching and provision, the children work towards the knowledge, skills and understanding (Early Learning Goals) they should have at the end of the academic year they turn five.
Four guiding principles shape the practice in our Early Years setting.
Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults who respond to their individual needs and interests.
Children learn and develop at different rates.
In planning and guiding what children learn, we reflect on the different rates at which children are developing and adjust our practice appropriately. The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
PLAYING AND EXPLORING - children investigate and experiences things and 'have a go.'
ACTIVE LEARNING - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements.
CREATING AND THINKING CRITICALLY - children have abd develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Curriculum Summary
In the Early Years starting from our 2 year old provision through to reception, staff make use of the non-statutory guidance Birth to Five Matters whilst ensuring the statutory framework for the EYFS is met.
Reception children are assessed against the appropriate early learning goals for all 7 areas of learning to contribute to them reaching a good level of development. Reception children also make use of the White Rose reception scheme to support learning and so that the children are introduced and prepared for the knowledge, vocabulary and different models they will encounter in Y1 - this supports their transition into the NC2014 KS1 mathematics curriculum. Reception children also make use of Jigsaw for PSED and Charanga for music to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and experiences to allow them to access the KS1 curriculum.
Nursery and Reception children make use of the progression of skills from Get Set for PE to ensure they have an introduction to the skills they will need to access the KS1 PE curriculum.
Long Term Overviews
2 Year Nursery, Nursery and Reception follow a long term framework with topics and possible texts and themes. These may be altered due to the needs and interests of the children.
Additional Information
2 YEAR NURSERY PROVISION
We offer free 2 year old places for children of parents who meet certain eligibility criteria. To check if your child would be eligible for a place and to apply for a place please use the following link.
https://eyes-par-portal.hartlepool.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/home
Parents can apply for a place the term their child turns 2. .Children who are eligible will be given a start date the term after they turn 2. For more information please contact Miss Caldwell on 01429 275239 at Rift House Primary School, Kim Rowntree on 01429 284881 or Bobbie Swlaes on 01429 523929 from the Children's Hub. All children will receive a home visit before they start our provision. Please request a copy of the school policy for more information.
We have two nursery sessions per day where we focus on the personal, social and emotional development of each child. We also encourage their communication, language and physical development. The children are encouraged to explore the environment. They will be supported in their play and will be encouraged to play alongside other children. The children will join in with stories, songs and rhymes during each session.
Our 2 year-old provision is currently mornings from 8.30 - 11.30 a.m. and afternoons from 12.15 - 3.15 p.m.
We also currently offer paid places. Parents are able to pay for sessions at a cost of £15.00 for 3 hours. Paid places are not available for children already accessing a funded 2 Year Nursery place. Please see the Paid Place Policy or contact the school to find out availablity and eligibility how this will work for you and your child.
SCHOOL NURSERY PROVISION
3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours Nursery provision.
Rift House Nursery also offers full time 30 hour provision for working parents. To find out if you are eligible, please use the link to take you to the Government website https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare#content. Select ‘Apply for 30 hours free childcare’ and click on ‘Start now.’ You will be asked to complete a simple online application. If you are entitled, a code will be emailed out to you. Once the code is handed into Nursery, your child is able to access full time provision the following term. The Nursery staff will explain how this will work for you and your child.
Application for 30 hours September to December – a place will be offered from January
Application for 30 hours January to April – a place will be offered from April
Application for 30 hours from May to August – a place will be offered from September
We also currently offer paid places. Parents are able to select additional sessions at a cost of £15.00 per session. Please see the Paid Place Policy or contact the school to find out availablity and eligibility how this will work for you and your child.
ADMITTANCE TO NURSERY
To place your child onto our Nursery list come into the school office or pop into the Nursery to complete the correct form. Children can be placed on the nursery list from birth. We will be in touch approximately six weeks before your child turns 3.
Once you have been notified that your child has a place in our Nursery, a home visit will be carried out. This gives parents, carers and children the opportunity to meet Nursery staff in their own home. You will also receive a welcome pack which contains information about the school and all paperwork and consent forms will be completed during this visit. For more information on home visit and nursery induction procedures please request a copy of our policy.
If your child already has a place in our 2 Year Nursery, a home visit will not be needed. Transition between the settings will be planned in the weeks before your child transfers to school Nursery.
We will also discuss how your child will access their nursery provision.
NURSERY SESSION TIMES
‘Morning’ Nursery: 8.30am - 11.30am
‘Afternoon’ Nursery: 12.15pm - 3.15pm
Please note: Admission to a Nursery attached to a primary school does not guarantee a place for your child in the Reception class at that school.
ADMISSIONS
Rift House Primary School is responsible for admissions into Nursery. The local authority has sole responsibility for admissions into Reception and Year 1 to Year 6. For further guidance on whole school admissions please see the local authority guidance that can be located at:
Applying for a primary school place
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/651/apply_for_a_primary_school_place
Important dates
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/653/important_dates_-_school_places
School admission arrangements
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20074/schools/983/school_admission_arrangements/1
Applyng for an in year admission
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/655/in_year_school_admissions
PHONICS and READING
We are currently using the Read, Write, Inc. phonics scheme across our Lower Phase including in Early Years. The children are really enjoying learning the phrases and actions associated with Read, Write, Inc. This helps the children to recognise letters, remember the sounds and form their letters correctly. If you would like to use these phrases and actions at home to help your child then click on the link below:
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/media/uploads/handwriting_phrases.pdf
Reading Website recommendations - Oxford Owl
2 year Nursery children and school Nursery children receive a book to share at home every week.
Reception children will receive a decodable phonics book and a book to share.
Reading is an important part of your child's development. Please support this by reading and sharing stories at home.
What we have been up to in Early Years...
Autumn Term in 2 Year Nursery
Here are some photos of what we have been enjoying in 2 Year Nursery.
Autumn Term in Nursery
Here are some photos of what we have been enjoying in school Nursery.
Autumn Term in Reception
Here are some photos of what we have been enjoying in Reception.
For information on the provision in each class, please see class pages.
