EYFS
Communication, Language and Literacy |
City Living |
Aspirations |
Celebrating Diversity |
Our Early Years provision is the first step in a journey where children are nurtured, inspired, and celebrated as unique individuals. Guided by our whole-school vision, we aim to provide an education of the highest quality—one that sparks curiosity, builds confidence, and lays the foundation for lifelong learning. Rooted in our Christian values of love, community, hope, wisdom, and dignity, we create an inclusive and stimulating environment where every child feels safe, supported, and encouraged to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Through play-based experiences and a rich, creative curriculum, we place reading and communication at the heart of learning, while embracing diversity and fostering aspirations. Together with parents as partners, we strive to nurture compassionate, resilient learners who boldly take on new challenges and develop the character and skills to make a positive impact in their community and the wider world.
Our Curriculum
In the Early Years, we place strong emphasis on the Prime Areas of Learning—communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development—because these are the foundations for all future learning. We take a proactive approach; for our children, there is no time to ‘wait and see’. If support is needed, we act quickly and effectively, making the best use of every moment in the school day. While play and child-led enquiry are essential, they alone cannot close gaps for children with lower starting points. That’s why we combine engaging experiences with focused teaching and timely interventions.
Reading is also at the heart of everything we do in Early Years. From the very beginning of life, children are ready to connect with stories—through language, conversation, and the world around them. These experiences prepare them to enjoy being read to and, later, to read for themselves. For some children, this journey needs extra support, and we take that responsibility seriously. We make sure every child has the time and help they need to succeed. This means dedicating time to phonics, providing specialist support for speech and language when needed, and sharing a daily diet of exciting, engaging stories. By putting these building blocks in place, we give every child the best possible start on their reading journey—helping them grow into confident, enthusiastic readers who love books.
At St John Chrysostom, we have created a curriculum that is ambitious, enjoyable, and tailored to our context, underpinned by our school cornerstones and British values. Our aim is to ensure every child is fully prepared for the next stage of learning and has the best possible start to their education.