Welcome to Early Years at Hob Hill
"Flourish and achieve as unique creations of God"
Early Years at Hob Hill
At Hob Hill, we believe the early years should be full of curiosity, discovery and joyful learning. Our Early Years environment provides children with rich opportunities to explore, play and develop confidence as they begin their school journey.
Play is at the heart of our curriculum. Through carefully planned experiences, inspiring stories and meaningful interactions, children develop the knowledge, skills and independence they need to flourish both now and as they move through school.
We work closely with families, recognising parents and carers as children’s first educators, to ensure every child feels safe, valued and inspired. Together we create strong foundations for a lifelong love of learning.
We are proud to nurture confident communicators, resilient learners and kind friends as they begin their journey through school.
Our Early Years Curriculum
Our Early Years curriculum supports children to flourish and achieve as unique creations of God, developing confidence, curiosity and kindness.
Please click the image below to find out more about our approach to teaching and learning within Early Years at Hob Hill.
Teaching and Learning in Early Years
Children in Early Years at Hob Hill experience a carefully sequenced curriculum which supports clear progression across Nursery and Reception. Learning is organised through engaging themes inspired by high-quality texts, meaningful experiences and children’s interests. Early reading is taught through the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme.
Through a balance of sustained play and purposeful adult-led teaching, children develop knowledge, confidence and independence across the seven areas of learning. Skilled adults model language, extend vocabulary and support sustained shared thinking through meaningful interactions.
Our Learning Environment
Our Early Years environment is carefully designed to encourage curiosity, independence and exploration. Areas such as construction, role play, small world, writing, mathematics and creative provision allow children to revisit learning, practise new skills and follow their interests.
Skilled adults carefully model language, extend vocabulary and support sustained shared thinking through meaningful interactions.
Our Outdoor Learning Environment
Outdoor learning is a vital part of life in Early Years at Hob Hill. Children have daily opportunities to explore, investigate and develop their physical skills through activities such as climbing, balancing, digging, building and planting.
Our outdoor environment encourages curiosity, creativity and collaboration while supporting children to build confidence, resilience and independence. We believe children benefit from spending time outdoors in all weathers, developing a strong connection with the natural world as they learn through play.
Our Curriculum Intent
In Early Years at Hob Hill, children experience a rich and carefully balanced curriculum where play, exploration and high-quality adult interaction support deep learning.
Our curriculum is carefully sequenced across Nursery and Reception so that children revisit learning and build confidence over time. Language development sits at the heart of everything we do.
Please see the poster below for a summary of our Early Years curriculum intent.
Supporting Every Child to Flourish
At Hob Hill, we recognise that every child develops at their own pace and that each child’s journey is unique. Through regular observation and assessment, children who require additional support are identified quickly so that appropriate intervention and support can be put in place.
Our inclusive approach ensures that all children can access learning and feel successful within our Early Years environment.
Please see the SEND Policy for further information.
Click the image below to explore our Quality First Teaching approaches used to support children with additional needs in Early Years.
Our Early Years Long-Term Plan
Our Early Years curriculum is carefully planned across the year to provide children with a rich range of engaging learning experiences.
Themes are inspired by high-quality texts, meaningful experiences and children’s interests, helping learning to feel engaging and purposeful.
Please see our Early Years Long-Term Plan below for further information about curriculum coverage and progression.
Assessment and Progress in Early Years
Assessment in Early Years at Hob Hill is ongoing and purposeful, helping staff to understand each child’s development and plan meaningful next steps in learning. Through careful observation, interaction and professional judgement, staff gain a deep understanding of each child’s development and use this to plan meaningful next steps in learning.
We use a focus child approach, alongside daily observations and discussions within the team, to ensure provision continues to meet the needs and interests of all learners.
A range of assessments support our understanding of children’s development, including:
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Reception Statutory Baseline Assessment (RBA)
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WellComm Speech and Language Screening
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Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics assessments
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Ongoing observations recorded on Tapestry
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The Early Years Foundation Stage Profile at the end of Reception
These assessments help us ensure every child is supported to make strong progress and flourish during their time in Early Years.
If you would like further information about assessment in Early Years, please speak to a member of the EYFS team.
