The Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow it, including childminders, pre-schools, nurseries and school reception classes.
Your child will mostly be taught through games and play. The areas of learning are communication and language; physical development; personal, social and emotional development; literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; and expressive arts and design.
The Learning Tree prospectus is available to download. Our full special educational needs policy is held in the policy folder in the entrance hall, and a copy is available to any parent or carer on request.
Someone who knows your child well
Your child will work with a chosen member of staff, known as their key person, who makes sure your child's needs are recognised within the pre-school. Anything about your child is recorded in their Learning Journey by their key person or another member of the team. Using a child's learning journey to complete their primary school transition document is one of the most effective ways to ensure continuity of care, emotional wellbeing, and tailored learning.
Your child's Learning Journey builds a picture of their development in the app, including observations, samples of their work and photographs of them at play. You can look back through it whenever you like.
Parents and Learning Tree staff have a lot to learn from each other, and together we can support and extend your child's learning and development. We pride ourselves on a welcoming atmosphere with approachable staff and effective communication — the more you can tell us about your child, the better we can help.
The Aquila members app keeps communication between pre-school and home strong from day to day, and information and requests are also displayed as posters on the main door. We are here to help you and your child in any way we can, and we hope they enjoy learning through play as much as we do.
A daily update in the journal
At the end of each day we post a general daily update in the journal on the Aquila members app, so every parent can see what the group has been up to that day — the activities we put out, what the children enjoyed, and anything worth sharing from the session.
It is one update for everyone rather than a note about each individual child, and it is not meant to be long. It is simply a quick window into the day at pre-school before your child walks back through the door.
Anything about your own child — their observations, photographs, progress and next steps — is recorded in their Learning Journey by their key person or another member of the team, and you can see it in the app whenever you like.
- One update for all parentsA general note on the day at pre-school, posted at the end of the day.
- In the journalOpen the Aquila members app whenever suits you.
- Ask us anythingYour child's key person is always happy to tell you more at the door.
Books to take home and share
We have our own lending library at Learning Tree, and every child is welcome to borrow from it. Sharing a book at home is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do for your child's language, vocabulary and love of stories.
Children choose their own book, which helps them see reading as something they have a say in and look forward to. Keep it for as long as you need it, bring it back when you are ready, and choose another.
If you are not sure what might suit your child, just ask your child's key person — they know what your child is interested in and will happily point you towards something they will enjoy.
- Free to borrowOpen to every child at the pre-school, at no cost.
- Your child choosesChildren pick their own book, which builds confidence and interest.
- Share it at homeReading together at home makes a real difference to language and vocabulary.
- Swap any sessionBring a book back whenever you are ready and choose another.