Early Years Unit

The Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum

The Early Years Unit aims to provide a stimulating environment where pre reading, maths and writing skills may be developed. Underpinning the whole of the everyday activities will be the opportunity for children to learn about the Christian faith where Christian principles of love, sharing, caring, obedience and forgiveness will be taught and applied.

The Early Years Unit is structured in three year groups: -

  • Nursery Group - 3 years
  • Pre school Group - 3 - 4 years
  • Reception - 4 - 5 years

Entrance into the reception class occurs in September of the academic year in which childen reach their 5th birthday. There are no Christmas or Easter intakes.

Each group has a fully qualified key worker, with specific responsibility for overseeing the educational development and pastoral care of the children within their group. Nursery children can attend for up to five full days including lunchtimes, this is dependent on the EYU staff's assessment of the child's ability to cope with full-time provision. Pre school children may attend for up to five full days including lunchtime. Reception children are statutory school age, and must attend fulltime.

The Early Years Unit is open each weekday during normal school term time. The Reception group hours are 9.00am to 3.30pm. The nursery and pre school morning session is 9.15am to 11.45am. The afternoon session is 12.45pm to 3.15pm. Children attending both sessions may stay for writing a paper about yourself. The Pre school and Reception group will be eligible to receive Early Years funding as the school is registered with, and approved by the Department for Education and Skills.

It is expected that children will be dry before they enter the Early Years Unit. Comforters and soothers are actively discouraged. As a child approaches statutory school age, information will be sought as to whether continuation through the school is intended. At this point the formal application procedure applies. Our aim throughout the Early Years Unit is to help children to reach their full potential and become fully prepared for integration into Key Stage One.

"Barnsley Christian School Early Years Unit provides a stimulating environment for children who as a result make very good progress in all aspects of their learning. The quality of teaching is very good. The leadership and management is very good. The partnership with parents is very good". OFSTED February 2005.