We are passionate about ensuring that children feel happy, secure and settled when beginning their time at Deanwood. We treat each child as an individual, understanding that all children learn at different rates and in different ways. With this in mind, we work hard to get to know each child in order to determine how best to support them to ensure they can achieve their very best and make the progress they are capable of at their level.

When pupils first join us, we focus primarily on the prime areas of learning:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

These prime areas support pupils to become resilient and confident independent learners and lay the foundations for their success in the other specific areas of learning: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

Our learning environment supports pupils to play and explore, create and think critically and engage in active learning – developing the characteristics of effective learning in the Early Years. We pride ourselves on ensuring that pupils have the same opportunities both inside and outside. We document children’s learning using Tapestry, a programme which allows parents/carers to follow and contribute towards their child’s unique learning journey.

When pupils come towards the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage, we work hard to prepare them for the next stage of their journey through Deanwood. This is done through numerous visits to their new classroom, as well as activities led by their new Class Teacher and Teaching Assistant. Ensuring a successful transition means that pupils enter into Year One ready to begin the next step in their learning journey.