EYFS

Intent Implementation Impact

At Andrews’ Endowed, our intent for the Early Years Foundation Stage is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where every child feels safe, valued, and inspired to learn. We believe that the EYFS is the “roots” of a child’s education, and our aim is to cultivate a lifelong love of learning through our core Christian values of Love, Courage, and Respect.

Our vision is for every child in Acorns to:

  • Develop a “can-do” attitude through the Characteristics of Effective Learning: playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically.
  • Become confident communicators by following our “Talk about EVERYTHING!” philosophy, expanding their vocabulary and curiosity from day one.
  • Build strong foundations in literacy and mathematics, ensuring they are socially, emotionally, and academically prepared for the transition to Key Stage 1.
  • Explore the world with wonder, utilizing our unique outdoor classroom and Forest School environments to develop physical skills and a respect for nature.


Our curriculum is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs and interests of the children. We deliver the seven areas of learning through a balance of adult-led sessions and child-initiated play.

  • Communication & Language: This is at the heart of our practice. We “jump” on new words, encourage constant questioning, and model high-quality conversation.
  • The Buddy System: A unique part of our implementation is the Year 6 Buddy system. Our oldest pupils support the Acorns in reading, maths, and social skills, fostering a sense of community and security.
  • Physical Development: We utilize our extensive grounds for “gross motor” development (climbing, running, jumping) and provide dedicated “fine motor” activities—such as dough disco and threading—to prepare children for writing.
  • Handwriting: We use specific, child-friendly terminology for letter formation, teaching children to master “Long ladder letters,” “One-armed robot letters,” “Curly caterpillar letters,” and “Zig Zag monster letters.”
  • Partnership with Parents: We use Tapestry, an online learning journal, to share “wow moments” and milestones. This ensures a seamless link between learning at home and learning at school.
  • Phonics & Maths: We follow a systematic approach to phonics and use practical, concrete resources (CPA approach) in Mathematics to ensure deep understanding of number and pattern.


The impact of our curriculum is measured by the well-rounded, confident, and independent learners who leave the Acorns class at the end of the year.

  • Assessment: We measure impact through regular, ongoing observations recorded on Google Classroom, which inform our “Next Steps” for every child. We track progress against the Early Years Outcomes and the 17 Early Learning Goals.
  • Pupil Voice: We observe how children apply their learning in their play—whether they are using new vocabulary in the role-play area or solving a mathematical problem in the construction zone.
  • Transition: By the end of their Reception year, our children are “Year 1 ready.” They possess the resilience to tackle challenges, the social skills to work collaboratively, and the fundamental academic skills needed to thrive in the next stage of their education.
  • Holistic Growth: Most importantly, the impact is seen in the happy, curious faces of our pupils who feel a deep sense of belonging within the Andrews’ Endowed family.


adminoffice@

andrewsendowed

.hants.sch.uk

01420 83094

© 2026 Andrews’ Endowed Primary School. Created using WordPress and Colibri