Welcome to Foundation Stage

St. Augustine’s Foundation Stage aims to provide an attractive and stimulating play-based environment where children feel confident, secure and challenged.  

The children in Foundation Stage are supported by an experienced and qualified staff team who understand the importance of a holistic approach to learning. 

We aim to set realistic and challenging expectations that meet the needs of our children. Children are treated as individuals and have equal access to all provision available. We also follow the children’s interests and experiences to engage, motivate and inspire.

We recognise parents are the child’s first and foremost educators and we work effectively to develop strong links with them throughout their time with us.

The Early Year’s Foundation Stage Framework is split into Prime and Specific areas. The Prime areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn and form relationships.

The 3 Prime areas are:

- Communication and Language

- Personal Social and Emotional Development

- Physical Development

There are also four Specific areas, through which the Prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The 4 Specific areas are:

- Literacy

- Mathematics

- Expressive Art and Design

- Understanding the World

Practitioners also consider the Characteristics of Effective Learning when planning activities. These are:

Playing and Exploring 

Active Learning 

Creating and Thinking Critically