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Early Years Intent – Ashford Hill Primary School

At Ashford Hill Primary School, we strive for excellence in all that we do so that every child can ‘be the best they can be’. In the Early Years, our ambitious curriculum lays the foundations for a lifelong love of learning. It enables children to explore their interests, develop their curiosity, and build the knowledge and skills they need to flourish as confident, independent learners.

Our values of integrity, determination, and community are at the heart of our practice. We teach our children to be honest and kind, to persevere and try their best, and to work together as part of a caring school community. Through nurturing relationships and inspiring experiences, we ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and begin their journey towards future success.

 

Implementation – Early Years at Ashford Hill Primary School

At Ashford Hill Primary School, we believe that every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. We recognise that children develop rapidly during the early years and that their experiences from birth to five have a profound impact on their future learning, wellbeing, and life chances. A secure, safe, and happy childhood is valued in its own right, and we work in close partnership with parents and carers to provide the highest quality care and education for every child.

Our Early Years provision follows the principles of the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2021). Children learn skills, acquire new knowledge, and demonstrate their understanding through a broad and balanced curriculum that encompasses the seven areas of learning and development.

The prime areas, which form the foundation for all learning, are:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The specific areas, which build upon the prime areas, are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Our carefully planned curriculum is a blend of adult-led and child-initiated learning that provides opportunities for exploration, curiosity, and creativity. Through purposeful play and high-quality interactions, children are supported to make connections, solve problems, and develop confidence as independent learners.

Practitioners use ongoing observation and assessment to understand each child’s development, plan meaningful next steps, and ensure that all children make strong progress from their individual starting points. Learning environments, both indoors and outdoors, are thoughtfully organised to stimulate children’s imagination and to promote collaboration, resilience, and independence.

At Ashford Hill, our values of integrity, determination, and community underpin all that we do. These values are modelled and embedded throughout the Early Years, enabling our children to become kind, confident, and motivated learners who are ready for the next stage of their education.

 

Observation, Planning and Assessment

At Ashford Hill Primary School, all areas of learning are delivered through a well-considered balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities. We place a strong emphasis on the prime areas of learning, recognising that these are fundamental to every child’s holistic development and provide the foundation for success in the specific areas. We understand that none of these areas exist in isolation; they are interconnected and together enable children to make sustained and meaningful progress.

We place each individual child at the heart of our planning and practice. Through careful and continuous observation and assessment, we gain a deep understanding of every child’s interests, experiences, and developmental stage. Planning is responsive and flexible, ensuring that learning builds on what children already know and can do. We take into account each child’s cultural capital, ensuring that our curriculum is inclusive, ambitious, and tailored to meet individual needs so that every child makes the best possible start to their education.

Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed to support children as they work towards the Ashford Hill Curriculum aims and the Early Learning Goals. Learning experiences are rich, purposeful, and progressive, helping children to extend their knowledge and skills across all areas of development — intellectual, physical, social, and emotional. We encourage children to talk about their learning, reflect on their achievements, and develop independence, resilience, and self-regulation.

Play is central to our approach. Through play, children explore, investigate, and make sense of the world around them. Practitioners engage in high-quality interactions, modelling language, ideas, and behaviours, and extending learning through sensitive and purposeful play alongside the children. We promote a culture of curiosity, perseverance, and risk-taking, helping children to understand that learning involves challenge and that mistakes are an important part of progress. Children learn to manage their feelings, make thoughtful choices, and work collaboratively with others, developing creativity, confidence, and a strong sense of community.