Welcome to our Early Years

Every child known, nurtured and inspired to flourish

At Langwith Bassett, we believe that the Early Years are the beginning of an exciting journey.

Children's earliest experiences help to shape their confidence, communication and attitudes towards learning. Our aim is therefore simple: for every child to feel safe, valued, understood and inspired to flourish.

We provide a nurturing, stimulating environment where children can explore, investigate, talk, imagine, create and learn. Through positive relationships, purposeful play and carefully planned learning experiences, we support children to become happy, confident, curious and increasingly independent learners.

Our approach is rooted in:

• Nurturing Relationships
• Child-Centred Practice
• Purposeful Play
• Inclusion for Every Child
• Strong Transitions

High Expectations

Our EYFS Vision

“Every child known, nurtured and inspired to flourish.”

Our vision places the child at the heart of everything we do. We recognise that every child arrives with their own experiences, interests, knowledge and strengths. We take time to get to know each child and use this knowledge to build relationships, plan meaningful experiences and support their next steps. We want our children to develop a love of learning and the confidence to have a go, make choices, ask questions, solve problems and share their ideas.

Most importantly, we want every child to know:I belong here.
I am valued.
I can have a go.
My ideas matter.
I can learn and succeed.

Relationships and Belonging – Children thrive through connection

Strong relationships are at the heart of our EYFS vision. 

Children learn best when they feel safe, valued and secure. Our adults invest time in building warm, trusting relationships and creating a strong sense of belonging within our Early Years community.

We help children learn how to communicate with others, form friendships, cooperate, take turns and manage the everyday challenges that come with learning alongside other people.

Through consistent routines, familiar adults and a welcoming environment, we aim to give every child the security and confidence they need to explore and learn.

Language and Interaction – Every interaction matters

Language and interaction are central to our EYFS approach, reflected in the phrase“Every interaction matters” within our vision. 

We know that children learn an enormous amount through their conversations and interactions with others. Throughout the day, adults listen, model language, introduce vocabulary, ask thoughtful questions and give children the time they need to develop and express their ideas.

Stories, rhymes, songs and conversations form an important part of children's experiences.

We want children to become confident communicators who can listen, understand, explain, question and share their thinking.

Learning Through Play – Play is the vehicle for deep learning

Purposeful play is central to our provision and is identified as one of the foundations of our EYFS vision. 

Through play, children have opportunities to explore ideas, make connections, solve problems and develop their independence.

Our learning environment is carefully planned so that children can make choices, follow their interests and revisit previous learning. Adults observe children's play closely and know when to join, model, question, introduce new vocabulary or provide a challenge that moves learning forward.

Children might be builders, storytellers, mathematicians, artists, scientists, explorers and problem-solvers, often within the same morning!

We value the learning that happens when children are deeply engaged in something that matters to them.

Knowing Every Child – Every child at the centre of all that we do

Our vision commits us to putting every child at the centre of all that we do. 

We recognise that children do not all develop in exactly the same way or at exactly the same pace.

By getting to know our children well, we can recognise their strengths, identify where they may need additional support and understand what captures their curiosity.

We use what we know about each child to help make learning meaningful, accessible and appropriately challenging.

Our ambition is for every child to make progress and experience success.

Inclusion for Every Child

Every child deserves to belong.

We value the individuality of every child and work to create an environment where all children can participate and learn. Inclusion for every child is one of the principles underpinning our EYFS vision. 

We recognise that some children will need different approaches, additional support or adaptations to help them access learning successfully.

Our starting point is always the child: What does this child already know? What can this child do? What will help this child take their next step?

We celebrate children's individual achievements and help them recognise just how much they are capable of.

Our Learning Environment

Our indoor and outdoor environments are an important part of our approach.

We aim to create spaces that encourage children to explore, communicate, investigate, create, imagine and become increasingly independent.

Resources and learning opportunities are carefully considered so that children can practise skills, develop ideas and return to their learning over time.

Our environment encourages children to:

• make choices and take increasing responsibility;
• talk and collaborate;
• investigate and solve problems;
• develop their imagination;
• read, write and use mathematics for meaningful purposes;
• create, design and make;
• explore the natural world;
• revisit and deepen previous learning.

A Seamless EYFS Journey – Growing together from Foundation Stage 1 to Reception

Our vision describes a “seamless EYFS journey”, with children “growing together from Foundation Stage 1 to Reception.”

We see Foundation Stage 1 and Reception as connected parts of the same Early Years journey.

From the moment children join us, we begin developing the relationships, routines, communication, confidence, knowledge and skills that will support them as they grow.

As children progress through EYFS, experiences build upon what has come before. Familiar routines, approaches and expectations help children feel secure, while new experiences provide appropriate challenge and encourage increasing independence.

Strong transition is an explicit part of our EYFS vision because we want children to move forward feeling confident, capable and ready for their next stage of learning.

High Expectations, Happy Learners

Having high expectations does not mean expecting every child to do the same thing at the same time.

It means believing in what every child can achieve.

We encourage children to have a go, persevere when something feels difficult, learn from mistakes and take pride in their achievements.

Adults provide support when it is needed while also knowing when to step back and allow children to think, try and discover for themselves.

We want children to leave our Early Years as learners who are increasingly:

curious • confident • communicative • resilient • independent • imaginative

Most importantly, we want them to believe:

“I can learn.”

Working in Partnership with Families

Families are an important part of children's Early Years experiences.

We value the knowledge parents and carers have about their children and aim to build positive relationships from the very beginning.

By sharing information about children's interests, achievements and development, we can work together to provide consistency between home and school and celebrate children's successes.

We also want families to feel involved in school life and confident about how they can support learning at home.

Our EYFS in Action

Talk. Explore. Play. Create. Discover. Grow.

Every day in our Early Years is filled with opportunities to learn.

A conversation can introduce a new word.
A story can inspire a new idea.
Building a tower can lead to mathematical thinking.
Exploring outdoors can spark a question about the world.
Playing alongside a friend can develop communication and cooperation.
Having another go can build confidence and resilience.

These moments matter.

And behind them are adults who know their children, understand what they are learning and recognise opportunities to move that learning forward.

Our Promise to Every Child

We want children to look back on their Early Years as a time when they were encouraged to wonder, explore, communicate, create, belong and achieve.

Our vision brings everything together:

Every child known.

Every child nurtured.

Every child inspired.

Every child given the opportunity to flourish.

"Every child known, nurtured and inspired to flourish.