We are delighted to welcome you and your child into the St Mary’s school family. St Mary’s is a joyful, nurturing place where each child is known, loved, and supported to reach their full, God-given potential. As a small, close-knit school, we take pride in the strong relationships we build—with our children, our families, and one another.

Children make a wonderful start in our Early Years, thanks to the dedication and care of our experienced team.

• Mrs J Heyes leads our Nursery, providing a gentle and inspiring first step into school life.

• Miss J Bain, our Reception teacher and EYFS Lead, ensures children are ready to thrive in their next stage of learning with confidence and joy.

They are supported by a fantastic team of Teaching Assistants—Miss L Smith, Mrs A Mason, Mrs A Macmillan, Miss I Banda and Mrs S Saywood—who help create a warm and stimulating environment where every child feels safe, supported and encouraged.

From the very beginning, we place a strong emphasis on early communication, reading, writing and mathematics—but never at the expense of creativity, exploration, and joy. Our curriculum is rich, broad, and meaningful, designed to ignite curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning.

Children at St Mary’s learn through play, imagination, and real-life experiences. Whether they are discovering nature in our outdoor space, cooking up ideas in the mud kitchen, role-playing with friends, or riding bikes with determination, they are developing important skills that will stay with them for life. Confidence, resilience, empathy and independence are nurtured every day as children sing, dance, investigate, build friendships, and grow together.

Starting school is a big step, and we are here to walk alongside you every step of the way. If you ever have questions or concerns—no matter how small—please don’t hesitate to ask. At St Mary’s, little things truly mean a lot.

• At St Mary’s we have both a Nursery and Reception Class 

  Nursery teacher – Mrs J Heyes

  Reception Teacher / EYFS Lead – Miss J Bain

• Our Teaching Assistants are: Miss L Smith, Mrs A Mason, Mrs A Macmillan, Miss I Banda and Mrs S Saywood.

Holidays

Please inform us in writing of any term-time holidays.  Please note that fees will still be payable for Nursery children.

The EYFS School Day

Doors Open at 8.45am

•  Nursery and Reception 8.45am – 3.15pm
• Lunchtime Nursery 11.45am – 1.10pm
• Lunchtime Reception 11.55am – 1.00pm

School Uniform

Children are required to wear school uniform and the co-operation of parents is sought in maintaining high standards of dress.

It is of great help if all items of clothing are clearly marked with your child’s name.

Nursery Uniform

• White polo shirt
• Royal blue round necked sweatshirt or cardigan (St Mary’s emblem jumpers are available from stockists – Andizyne – based in Wardle.
• Charcoal Grey school trousers/skirt/pinafore
• Sensible black shoes (not boots or trainers – no laces or buckles Velcro is best)
• Wellies to be kept in School
• Spare clothes-to be kept on your child’s peg

Reception Uniform

• White polo shirt
• Royal blue round necked sweatshirt or cardigan (St Mary’s emblem jumpers are available from stockists – Andizyne – based in Wardle.
• Charcoal Grey school trousers/skirt/pinafore
• Sensible black shoes (not boots or trainers – no laces or buckles Velcro is best)
• Wellies to be kept in School
• Spare clothes – to be kept on your child’s peg

PE Uniform

• Nursery and Reception – PE kits are to be worn on PE days. White Tshirt, navy or black shorts, blue school jumper – no logos on clothing. When cold children can wear a navy or black plain tracksuit top and bottoms. Trainers to be worn (not pumps) as children will be playing outside.

Jewellery

• No earrings are to be worn, this is for the purposes of your child’s health and safety.

Click here to explore Starting Reception, a helpful website for parents and carers preparing their children for the transition into primary school.

Nursery

• Children who attend a full day sessions in our Nursery will need to either order and pay for a school meal via the School Gateway App or bring in a packed lunch, clearly labelled with their name.
• We are a NUT FREE SCHOOL and have children with severe nut allergies – please do not send in any snacks that contain nuts e.g. Nutella, Snickers, pesto etc.

 

 Reception

• All Reception children are entitled to a free school lunch.
• If your child is having a school dinner, please ensure you inform us if they have any allergies.  It would be helpful if they could practise using a knife and fork at home.
• School dinners can be ordered on the School Gateway App.
• If your child is having a packed lunch, they will need a labelled lunch box, which will be kept in the classroom until lunchtime.

• Your children will be supported by Early Years staff throughout dinner times.

 

• We are a NUT FREE SCHOOL and have children with severe nut allergies – please do not send in any snacks that contain nuts e.g. Nutella, Snickers, pesto etc.

What Your Child Needs for School

• Wellies – to remain in school- we will play out in all weathers
• A sensible coat
• A spare set of clothes in case of accidents
• School Book Bag
• Sunhat and sun cream in warm/hot weather
• Hats and gloves in cold weather

*Please ensure all items of clothing are labelled with your child’s name

At St Teresa’s Roman Catholic Primary School, we adhere to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework and incorporate the principles of Development Matters. These guidelines ensure our youngest learners receive a high-quality, play-based education that fosters their development and prepares them for future learning.

Click on the Following Links for More Information

EYFS Framework(opens in new tab)(opens in new tab)

Development Matters

EYFS Topic Overview

Assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

National Framework

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), assessment is a critical component to ensure that children receive the best possible start to their education. Nationally, the assessment framework for EYFS is designed to support children’s development and learning by providing a clear structure for measuring progress and identifying areas where additional support may be needed.

The EYFS Profile

The primary national assessment tool for children in the EYFS is the EYFS Profile. The EYFS Profile is completed in the final term of the year in which the child turns five, typically at the end of the Reception year. This assessment summarises and describes children’s attainment at the end of the EYFS.

Areas of Learning

The EYFS Profile assesses children’s achievements in the following areas:

1. Communication and Language
   • Listening and Attention
   • Understanding
   • Speaking
2. Physical Development
   • Moving and Handling
   • Health and Self-Care
3. Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
   • Self-Confidence and Self-Awareness
   • Managing Feelings and Behaviour
   • Making Relationships
4. Literacy
   • Reading
   • Writing
5. Mathematics
   • Numbers
   • Shape, Space, and Measures
6. Understanding the World
   • People and Communities
   • The World
   • Technology
7. Expressive Arts and Design
   • Exploring and Using Media and Materials
   • Being Imaginative

Early Learning Goals (ELGs)

For each area of learning, there are specific Early Learning Goals (ELGs) which set out the expected level of development that most children should reach by the end of the EYFS. Teachers assess each child against these goals, determining whether they are:

• Emerging: not yet reaching the expected level.
• Expected: meeting the expected level.
• Exceeding: surpassing the expected level.

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)

Starting in the academic year 2021/2022, the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) was introduced as a statutory assessment for all children in Reception. This assessment takes place within the first six weeks of children starting school and serves as a baseline to measure the progress children make from the start of Reception to the end of Key Stage 2.

Key Features of the RBA

• Focus Areas: The RBA focuses on early literacy, communication, and mathematics skills.
• Format: It is a short, interactive assessment carried out one-on-one with a teacher or practitioner.
• Purpose: The RBA is not intended to provide a comprehensive picture of a child’s abilities but to establish a starting point for measuring progress throughout primary school.
• Non-Obtrusive: Designed to be a low-pressure assessment, it fits seamlessly into the child’s normal school day.

The results of the RBA are used to create a baseline measure for each child, which will help track their progress across their primary education journey. These results are not shared with parents or used to label or track individual children within the school.

Observational Assessment

A key aspect of EYFS assessment is observational assessment. Our staff observe children as they act and interact in their play, everyday activities, and planned activities, and they use these observations to understand each child’s development and learning needs. Observational assessment is continuous and forms the basis of the formative assessment process.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is integral to the EYFS. It involves practitioners using their observations to inform planning and to create a responsive learning environment. This ongoing process helps to tailor the learning experiences to meet the individual needs of each child, supporting their development in all areas of learning.

Summative Assessment

In addition to the formative assessments, the EYFS Profile provides a summative assessment at the end of the Reception year. This summative assessment provides parents, practitioners, and teachers with a well-rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding, and abilities as they prepare to transition into Key Stage 1 (KS1).

Reporting to Parents

Parents are provided with a written summary of their child’s attainment against the ELGs, along with commentary on the characteristics of effective learning. This report helps parents understand how their child is progressing and provides them with insights into how they can support their child’s learning at home.

Implementation in Our School

At St. Ethelbert’s, we are committed to implementing the EYFS assessment framework effectively to support every child’s learning journey. Our approach includes:

• Ongoing Observations: We conduct ongoing observations to capture children’s achievements and inform our planning.
• Parental Involvement: We actively involve parents in the assessment process through regular  Focus Child meetings
• Professional Development: Our staff engage in continuous professional development to ensure they are skilled in conducting accurate and meaningful assessments.
• Inclusive Practices: We tailor our assessment practices to ensure they are inclusive and cater to the diverse needs of all our children.

By adhering to the national EYFS assessment framework, including the RBA, and implementing best practices within our school, we strive to provide a supportive and enriching learning environment that promotes the holistic development of every child.

General Early Years Resources

1. BBC Tiny Happy People
   • Offers a wide range of activities and tips to support language development.
2. Hungry Little Minds
   • Provides ideas and activities to help parents support their child’s learning and development.
3. National Literacy Trust
   • Offers resources and advice to support children’s literacy development from birth to age 11.

Parenting and Family Support

4. Family Lives
   • Provides parenting advice, support forums, and helplines for parents and caregivers.
5. Action for Children
   • Offers practical advice and support for parents on a range of topics, including early childhood development.
6. NHS Start4Life
   • Offers health advice and tips for pregnancy, birth, and early years.

Educational Activities and Games

7. PhonicsPlay
   • Provides phonics games and resources to support children in learning to read.
8. Topmarks
   • Offers a variety of educational games and resources covering maths, literacy, and more.
9. Twinkl
   • Provides a vast array of printable resources and activities for early years education.

Online Storybooks and Reading

10. Oxford Owl
    • Offers free eBooks and reading activities for children, as well as advice for parents on supporting reading at home.
11. BookTrust
    • Provides book recommendations, reading tips, and activities to encourage a love of reading.

Wellbeing and Mental Health

12. Young Minds
    • Offers advice and resources to support children’s mental health and wellbeing.
13. MindEd for Families
    • Provides information and advice to support parents and caregivers in promoting children’s mental health.

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

14. Contact
    • Provides support and advice for families with children who have special educational needs or disabilities.
15. The Sensory Projects
    • Offers resources and ideas for sensory play and learning, particularly for children with SEND.

Creative Play and Activities

16. The Imagination Tree
    • Features creative play ideas and activities to encourage imaginative play and development.
17. Learning4Kids
    • Provides a range of fun and educational activities to support early childhood learning.