We aim to provide a happy and exciting environment where your child is encouraged to become independent, to be able to mix with other children and adults.

In September 2020 Heaton Avenue became an Early Adopter of the new EYFS Framework. Our curriculum is based on the new EYFS document based on seven Foundation Stage areas of learning: 3 'Prime Areas' (Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional and Physical) and 4 'Specific Areas' (Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design, Mathematics and Literacy). Each child's development is recorded in an individual learning journal using the online tool Tapestry. We also outline next steps needed to ensure that your child continues with their progress.

During each session the children choose for themselves which areas they wish to work/play in. As the children use the resources they will be developing their knowledge, extending their vocabulary and improving  a wide range of skills.

Staff in the Unit play alongside the children to develop their thinking, valuing their achievements and encouraging them to explore new ideas. The children are also given the opportunity to take part in specific activities that may be either Literacy, Numeracy or theme based. These activities are always noted within our planning where the aims/focus of the activity are clearly stated. We have certain times during the day where the children sit in groups either full time or part time. At these sessions we do the register, read stories and poems and have Literacy and Numeracy activities ongoing. 

Foundation- Part time

Children are admitted part time to the Foundation Stage Unit up to three times a year in September, January and April if we have available places. Admissions are completed using the Local Authority guidelines. To add your child's name to the waiting list we recommend making an appointment with school, when your child is about two years old. We offer morning, afternoon and full day sessions (for working parents) .  When a place becomes available you will receive a letter from school informing you of the following dates; new parent/guardian information meeting, home visit date, personal visit date and start date. 

Session times are as follows:

Morning - 8.30 - 11.30

Afternoon- 12.00 - 3.00

Full Day - 8.30-3.00

Foundation- Full time

Children join our Reception year in the September of the year that they turn five, for example for entry to Reception in September 2024 their birth date must be from 1st September 2019 to 31st August 2020. Places are allocated by Kirklees Local Authority and it cannot be assumed that your child will automatically be offered a full time place if they have attended a part time session. 

School times - 8.30 - 3.00

 

Early Phonics

We primarily use the Letters and Sounds approach to teaching our phonics which we do twice a day using our 10 part model. There are a couple of great websites that would be useful for your children to use at home. Both websites are focused on Phonics, and they are linked to the National Strategy of Letters and Sounds. 

The websites have some fun interactive games that will help your child with segmenting, blending, applying and improving their phonic knowledge. The games will also be useful for Year 1 children as practice for the National Phonics Screening in June. 

We aim to cover Phonics phases 2 and 3 in Reception and phases 4 and 5 in year 1. 

Access to Phonics at home: 

www.phonicsplay.co.uk has some free games that help children practise Phases 2, 3, 4 and 5. Picnic on Pluto and Buried Treasure are excellent games that will help your child read real and non-words. The games allow your child to use their phoneme knowledge and not just guess the word. Also in each Phase there are games on sentence substitution and these help your child with reading the words and creating sentences that make sense. There is also a Phase 6 section on Plurals which is covered in Year 2. The website has a section for Parents which you may find very useful. In addition, many other games are available for a small subscription fee. 

Phonics is so important because it helps your child understand how words are put together. This in turn helps to improve their reading, spelling and writing. 

If you have any questions about reading or phonics please do not hesitate to contact your child's class teacher. 

Early Reading 

Within school the reading schemes we use include: Jelly and Bean, Floppy’s phonics, Songbirds Project X, Oxford Reading Tree, and Accelerated Reader.  

Access to reading at home: 

Oxford Owl for Reception and Key Stage One 

All children are encouraged to join Kirklees online library where they can use the MEET LIBBY App to access