Early Years Foundation Stage

Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage section of our website. At Dovelands, Early Years Foundation Stage is a place where every child’s learning journey begins with care, creativity, and curiosity.

Our Early Years Foundation Stage is organised into two provisions: Foundation 1 (Nursery) and Foundation 2 (Reception). Each provision is designed to provide a nurturing, engaging environment where children can explore, learn, and grow at their own pace, building strong foundations for their future education.

Foundation 1 (Nursery)

Children join us in the Autumn Term following their third birthday, beginning their early learning journey in our warm and nurturing Foundation 1 setting, known as The Owlets.

Our provision runs each day from 09:00 to 15:00. We offer a morning session from 09:00 to 12:00 (15 hours), with the option for children to stay for a full day from 09:00 to 15:00 (30 hours).

Children who attend full-time are kindly asked to bring a packed lunch from home, so they can enjoy a relaxed and social lunchtime with their friends.

Foundation 2 (Reception)

Children join us in the Autumn Term following their fourth birthday, beginning an exciting new chapter in their learning journey. Our Foundation 2 provision runs each day from 08:40 to 15:10, with gates open from 08:40–08:50 in the morning and 15:10–15:20 at the end of the day.

We are proud to have three Foundation 2 classes—The Sparrows, The Robins, and The Wrens—where children learn and grow in a nurturing and supportive environment.

Lunchtime takes place from 11:45 to 12:45, and children can choose to enjoy a hot school meal or bring a packed lunch from home.

Early Learning Goals

Please find below information about the Early Learning Goals, along with practical ideas and strategies you can use at home to support your child’s learning and development. The Early Learning Goals are organised into Prime Areas (Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development) and Specific Areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design).

Phonics and Early Reading

Please find below information about the Little Wandle phonics programme used in our school, along with practical ideas and strategies you can use at home to support your child’s learning and development. In Foundation 1, each child will bring home a book for you to share with them. In Foundation 2, each child will take home a Little Wandle text that they can decode independently, as well as a library book to enjoy reading for pleasure.

Literacy

Please find below a selection of texts that children will read in Literacy during their time in EYFS at Dovelands. These texts have been carefully selected to support children’s early language development, build confidence in reading, foster a love of writing, and promote a lifelong enjoyment of books.

Handwriting

Please find information below showing how handwriting is taught through the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme, which is delivered to children in Foundation Stage 2 (Reception). This approach ensures that handwriting development is carefully structured and closely aligned with early phonics learning.

Maths

Please find information below outlining the key mathematics learning and development that children experience in both Foundation 1 and Foundation 2.

Topic

Please find information below outlining our topic learning in Foundation 2. We believe that all children benefit from a broad and balanced curriculum, underpinned by Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design, which provides the essential foundations for future learning in Key Stage 1.

Statutory Assessment

Please find below some helpful information about the statutory assessments that take place in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These include the Reception Baseline Assessment, which is carried out within the first six weeks of starting school in Foundation 2, and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile, which is completed towards the end of the academic year.

Parent and pupil voice

Please find below a selection of comments provided by pupils and parents during the 2024–2025 academic year.

EYFS Long Term Planning

Please find below our Long Term Plans, which provide an overview of our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum at Dovelands. We hope this gives you a clear picture of the exciting learning experiences we offer and how we support your child’s development throughout their time with us.

EYFS termly overviews for parents and carers

Please find below our termly parental overviews, which share a snapshot of our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum at Dovelands. They highlight the exciting learning opportunities planned for each term and show how we support your child’s growth and development in a fun, nurturing environment.

Intent statement

Please find below our Intent, Implementation and Impact statement for the Early Years Foundation Stage, outlining how we support, develop and celebrate every child’s learning journey.

EYFS Intent, Implementation and Impact statement

PDF File

Starting Reception

Please find below a booklet which provides helpful information about starting school, including practical advice and guidance to support your child’s transition into Reception.