Abbotskerswell Early Years
Our Early Years Lead is Mr Graham Lawrence. 
We have one class of Reception-aged children. Visit the Puffin class page to see the Early Years curriculum in action!
Our Early Years Curriculum
Two key documents have been used to support the development of our entire Early Years curriculum:
Statutory Framework For The Early Years
At Abbotskerswell Primary School, Puffins Class provides a warm, nurturing and exciting start to your child's school journey. Reception is a unique and important year where children develop confidence, curiosity and independence through a balance of child-led play, adult-guided activities and purposeful learning experiences.
Our curriculum is designed around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and supports every child to become a happy, confident learner who is ready for Key Stage 1.
Learning Through Play
Young children learn best through exploration, investigation and hands-on experiences. In Puffins Class, children spend much of their day learning through carefully planned play opportunities both indoors and outdoors.
Activities are designed to encourage children to:
- Talk and communicate confidently
- Develop early reading and writing skills
- Build strong mathematical understanding
- Explore the world around them
- Create, imagine and solve problems
- Develop friendships and social skills
- Grow in confidence and independence
What Will My Child Learn?
Our curriculum covers seven areas of learning:
Prime Areas
These are the foundations for all learning:
Communication and Language
- Listening carefully
- Asking and answering questions
- Building vocabulary
- Sharing ideas and experiences
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Making friends
- Understanding feelings
- Developing resilience
- Learning classroom routines
Physical Development
- Fine motor skills for writing
- Outdoor play and physical activities
- Developing coordination and balance
Specific Areas
Literacy
- Daily phonics lessons
- Learning letter sounds
- Reading simple words and sentences
- Developing writing skills
Mathematics
- Counting and recognising numbers
- Understanding patterns
- Comparing quantities
- Beginning addition and subtraction
Understanding the World
- Learning about families and communities
- Exploring nature and seasons
- Discovering different cultures and traditions
- Using simple technology
Expressive Arts and Design
- Art, music and dance
- Role play and storytelling
- Creative projects and performances
A Typical Day in Reception
Every day includes a mix of structured teaching and child-initiated learning. Children will enjoy:
- A welcoming start to the day
- Daily phonics sessions
- Mathematics learning
- Choosing activities independently
- Outdoor learning and exploration
- Story time and singing
- Opportunities to play, investigate and create
- Developing friendships through collaborative play
Outdoor Learning
Our outdoor environment is an extension of the classroom. Children have regular opportunities to learn outside through:
- Physical challenges
- Nature exploration
- Creativity and construction
- Investigation and problem-solving
- Imaginative play
Outdoor learning helps children develop confidence, resilience and a love of learning.
Working Together
We believe that strong partnerships between home and school help children thrive. We keep parents informed about learning, celebrate achievements and provide ideas for supporting learning at home.
We encourage families to share in their child's learning journey and look forward to working together throughout this exciting year.
Our Aim
In Puffins Class, we aim to ensure that every child feels safe, valued and inspired to learn. Through rich experiences, caring relationships and high expectations, we help children develop the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to flourish both now and in the future.
mathematics overview example autumn 1.pdf
Assessments
Baseline Assessments
We carry out the Reception Baseline Assessment. You can download a parents guide to the assessments here:
Reception Baseline Assessment | Information For Parents
Explore More
Explore the Early Years further by visiting these related pages:
Starting School Puffin | Class Page Puffin | Pupil Page