Early Years Information

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the first step in your child’s primary school journey. At Bishop’s Hull Primary School, our goal is to equip every child with the skills and confidence to become enthusiastic learners who embrace new opportunities, overcome challenges, and thrive as valued members of our school and wider community. 

We work in close partnership with families to ensure a smooth, positive transition into school life. In June, prior to your child officially joining us, we host an information session for parents and carers. This session provides an overview of the school day, classroom routines, and offers an opportunity for you to ask any questions. Following this, we invite you and your child to attend two ‘Stay and Play’ sessions. These sessions allow you to explore the classroom together, helping your child become familiar with the environment while feeling supported by your presence. 

Our EYFS class, Dormouse Class, follows a dedicated curriculum that places learning within a context of play and hands-on experiences. Our curriculum develops and interlinks the following seven areas: 

Prime Areas:  

• Communication & Language  

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development  

• Physical Development  

Specific Areas:  

• Mathematics  

• Literacy  

• Understanding the World   

• Expressive Arts & Design 

The importance of embedding purpose and context to enhance our pupil’s learning is invaluable and we believe that learning should be ‘brought to life’ wherever possible to inspire learning curiosity. 

Children enjoy a rich variety of activities, including visits to the local church, performing in the EYFS/KS1 Nativity, and meeting people who help us in our community. We bring learning to life through real-world experiences such as observing life cycles—from frogspawn to tadpoles and caterpillars to butterflies—and exploring how food grows in our container garden as well as cooking opportunities. 

To support parents, we offer workshops at the start of the year and provide opportunities throughout the year for you to join your child in school activities. 

Our curriculum is organised into half-termly topics, each supported by key texts for English and Understanding the World. Daily phonics lessons follow the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds programme, complemented by three weekly reading practice sessions. This structured approach helps children progress confidently through wordless, blending, and decodable books, fostering a lifelong love of reading. 

Reading is a priority, and we strive to foster a love of reading in all pupils. Once children have learnt to read, they are able to read to learn, supporting their development in all curriculum areas. High quality texts are chosen to engage pupil’s interest, develop their vocabulary and instil a passion for storytelling. Pupils have free access to books in the indoor and outdoor environments. Reading for pleasure is encouraged through daily story times and pupils choose a book from the classroom to take home and share with their family each week. 

We screen all children upon entry for oral language development and deliver weekly Talk Boost sessions to small groups and the whole class. 

For mathematics, we use the NCETM framework to build strong foundations. Weekly focus areas and regular revisiting of concepts ensure deep understanding and readiness for future learning. Children have opportunities to consolidate their learning through self-initiated play and planned activities both inside and out. 

In Dormouse Class, we view play as a fundamental component of effective learning. When thoughtfully integrated with adult-led sessions and continuous provision, play enables children to develop creativity, practise essential skills, and learn through exploration. This balanced approach supports each child in reaching their full potential while fostering a lifelong love of learning. 

Our classroom benefits from a dedicated courtyard that provides seamless access to outdoor activities, complemented by a larger playground where children can engage in more active play. Here, they have opportunities to use equipment such as bicycles, tricycles, and scooters under careful supervision. We place strong emphasis on the development of gross motor skills—those involving large muscle groups for walking, running, jumping, and maintaining balance—as these are vital for physical independence, social interaction, and academic readiness. Building strength, coordination, and confidence through these activities lays the foundation for more complex tasks, including fine motor skills such as writing, and supports participation in sports and everyday activities. 

Developing these skills not only helps children maintain posture, play, and learn effectively but also contributes to their overall emotional well-being. To further enhance physical development, children have regular access to the school’s trim trail, providing additional opportunities for movement and coordination. 

At Bishop’s Hull Primary School, we believe these early experiences lay the groundwork for a lifetime of curiosity, confidence, and success. 

Our goal is simple: to nurture a love of learning and equip every child with the skills they need to thrive in school and beyond. 

Our Daily Routine 
At our school, every day is designed to balance structure with flexibility. While we adapt to the interests and needs of our children, we keep a consistent routine to help them feel secure and confident about what’s ahead. Each morning, the day’s activities are shared with pupils through a visual timetable, so everyone knows what to expect. 

A typical day includes four engaging whole-class sessions: Phonics, English, Maths, and a wider curriculum subject. These are complemented by independent learning opportunities, provision time, shared stories, and snack breaks. 

Beyond the classroom, pupils enjoy weekly PE lessons, whole-school assemblies, and exciting activities such as Forest School, all designed to inspire curiosity and creativity.