Swale Class (EYFS - Pre-School & Reception)
Class Teacher: Mrs. Barrasso
Welcome to Early Years at Gainford CofE Primary School
At Gainford, our Early Years is a happy, nurturing and exciting place where our Nursery and Reception children learn, play and grow together.
We believe that every child is unique and should feel happy, safe and truly valued. From the moment children join our Early Years family, we take time to get to know them – their interests, their personalities and all the wonderful things that make them who they are. Through warm and supportive relationships, we help our children to grow in confidence, develop their independence and learn to care for themselves and one another.
Our school vision, ‘Together we love, learn and flourish,’ is at the heart of our Early Years. We want every child to feel that they belong and to know that they are an important and valued part of our school family. Our Christian values are gently woven through our everyday experiences as children learn to be caring, supportive, inclusive, respectful, forgiving, honest, thankful and courageous.
Our Early Years environment is carefully planned to spark imagination, curiosity and a sense of wonder. Children are given opportunities to explore, investigate, create, discover and challenge themselves through meaningful experiences both indoors and outdoors. We encourage them to ask questions, share their ideas, take risks in their learning and delight in their discoveries.
Play is at the heart of everything we do. We know that young children learn best when they are happy, engaged and actively involved in their learning. Our days therefore provide a thoughtful balance of carefully planned adult-led learning and plenty of uninterrupted time for children to follow their own interests and ideas through play. Our adults play alongside the children, observing, listening, questioning and extending their thinking to help them make connections and take those important next steps in their learning.
Being a mixed Nursery and Reception class gives our children wonderful opportunities to learn with and from one another. Our younger children are inspired by their older friends, while our Reception children develop confidence, kindness and responsibility as they become positive role models. Together, we create a caring little community where everyone is encouraged to contribute, belong and flourish.
Our curriculum is underpinned by the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage and supports the development of the whole child. We nurture children socially, emotionally, physically, spiritually and academically, celebrating their individuality and encouraging them to become confident, curious and resilient learners.
Above all, we want our children to love coming to school. We want their Early Years experience to be filled with friendship, laughter, exploration, discovery and those magical moments when something suddenly makes sense.
These first years of education are incredibly special, and we feel privileged to share them with our children and their families. Together, we are laying the foundations for each child’s journey through Gainford and beyond – helping them to love, learn and flourish every step of the way.