March St, Burnley, BB12 0BU

01282 454 473

Stoneyholme Nursery School with Forest School

Laying the foundations for life-long learning - Tel: 01282 454473

Assessment for learning and the EYFS

All children learn more in the period from birth to five years old than any other time in their lives. If children are at risk of falling behind the majority, the best time to help them to catch up and keep up is in the early years.

When we succeed in giving every child the best start in their early years, we give them what they need today. We also set them up with every chance of success tomorrow.

'Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up’.
Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021

Stoneyholme Nursery School is an exciting, creative, challenging, innovative learning environment which aims to provide the highest standards of education and care, so that each individual child is able to make rapid and sustained progress in a safe, secure and nurturing environment.

We want all children to become active, independent and enthusiastic, life-long learners and we take pride in listening to and respecting all children as unique individuals.

When children are at earlier stages of development than expected, we notice what they enjoy doing and also find out where their difficulties may lie. They may need extra help so that they become secure in the earlier stages of development. It is not usually helpful to wait for them to become ‘ready’. For example, children who are not speaking in sentences are not going to be able to write in sentences. They will need lots of stimulating experiences to help them develop their communication. That’s why the time staff and parents spend listening to them and having conversations with them is so important. Health colleagues, like health visitors or speech and language therapists, offer vital extra support to this work. 

"The curriculum is of a high quality. Children’s activities are developed with much care and thought. Great use is made of the indoor and outdoor environment. Children benefit from extensive opportunities to learn in the nursery garden. Staff are given extra training to help children light fires, climb trees, make dens and identify trees and insects. Books, stories, songs, visits and visitors are also key parts of the planned experiences for children. Children’s learning and their progress is excellent"

Ofsted 2017

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets out standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes.

The EYFS supports an integrated approach to early learning and care, providing a set of common principles and commitments to deliver quality early education and childcare experiences to all children.

At Stoneyholme Nursery School we embrace the EYFS which is used to support our planning, teaching and the assessment of children.  The  EYFS Statutory Framework sets out seven areas of learning and development.   

 Staff in nursery will ensure that all children are given opportunities to develop in the three Prime areas and four Specific areas. Woven into all teaching are the Characteristics of Effective Learning.

Staff plan activities to ensure that all children’s individual needs are met, they are engaged, motivated and are developing their thinking skills at all times.

Your child's learning journey is unique!

Your child's Learning Journey celebrates their experiences through their early education. Over time it will tell a story about your child - their learning, their friends, the experiences they enjoy and the activities they complete.

Staff watch and notice each child at play because it helps us to understand and support their individual wellbeing and development. We really get to know the children as unique people with special skills, interests and ideas. Them more we understand about your child, the better we can support them in a way that is right for them. We value  contributing to your child's learning journey; to add photos of family or share significant milestones. When children are ready they too can choose to put things that are important to them in their learning journey and together we can create a wonderful record of your child's early years.

Assessment plays an important part in helping parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support.’ Statutory Framework for the Early years Foundation Stage 2021 

Starting points

Starting points: Accurate assessment helps practitioners to make informed decisions about what a child needs to learn and be able to do next. We do this assessment with you the parent/carer as we recognise the importance of working in partnership with parents and acknowledge parents as their child’s first educators. You know your child best and we want to learn from you about your child. We use the, Parents as Partners ‘All About Me!’ booklet as a guide to identifying your child’s starting points on your child’s first day and build on it.

Observation checkpoints: These help us to notice whether a child is at risk of falling behind in their development. Staff can make all the difference by taking action quickly, using their professional judgement and understanding of child development. By monitoring the child’s progress more closely, staff can make the right decisions about what sort of extra help is needed.
Staff will talk to parents/carers to help to understand the child better and also offer helpful suggestions to support the home learning environment.

2 year old Progress Check

For children who attend Stoneyholme Nursery School when they are aged between 2 and 3 years old, both health visitors and staff review their progress, and provide parents with a short, written summary of their child’s development in the three prime areas of learning of communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development.

The purpose of the 2 year check is to highlight areas where each child is progressing well and any areas where progress is less than expected. This may mean the child might need some extra help and support. Parents and other family members can also work with the key person to help.

Parents usually find it useful to share the information from the check with other professional such as health visitors (who use it as part of health and development review).

Getting the right support at the right time

‘Assessment plays an important part in helping parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support.’ Statutory Framework for the Early years Foundation Stage 2021

In the nursery children are working at their own individual level; all children learn and develop at different rates. Through our observations we are able to identify children who need help to make progress. We always contact parents immediately if we have any concerns. We need your help to understand your child and to find out how each child learns best, if you have any concerns, please ask your child’s Key Person who will be happy to help you.

Equally, children who may have particular gift or talents are identified and their needs are catered for. All staff regularly attend pupil progress meetings with the head teacher. This is so that all children’s progress is monitored and timely interventions can take place to ensure that no child is left behind and that children of higher ability continue to make better than average progress.

To find out more about our exciting curriculum and our assessment for learning, please contact the school.