At Dorridge, we provide children with a safe, secure and enabling environment where adults are warm, attentive and highly skilled in supporting early development. We are committed to developing the whole child, ensuring children grow socially, emotionally, physically and academically as they explore all areas of the Early Learning Goals. Through carefully planned interactions, we encourage children to explore, talk, think and become increasingly independent in their learning. Our curriculum is built around meaningful concepts that help children make sense of the world, alongside a strong focus on communication, language and early writing. Adults model language, scaffold ideas and support children to develop confidence in expressing themselves, before gradually guiding them towards independence. High-quality teaching, combined with a deep understanding of each child, ensures that all children make strong progress from their starting points.

As we move into the Summer term, our learning is centred around the concepts of creativity, imagination and growth. Children build on the strong foundations established throughout the year, developing confidence in expressing their ideas, working collaboratively and taking pride in their achievements.

Our curriculum is carefully sequenced to support children’s development across all areas of learning. High-quality texts, including traditional tales such as The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Jack and the Beanstalk, provide a rich context for storytelling, role play, problem-solving and early writing. Children also take part in hands-on experiences such as planting and observing growth, helping them to understand change over time and the world around them.

Forest School continues to provide rich opportunities for children to develop personal, social and emotional skills, physical development and their understanding of the world through outdoor learning. Alongside this, children take part in weekly FootieBugs sessions, building confidence, teamwork and gross motor skills through engaging, structured activities.

We are looking forward to a busy and exciting term, full of creativity, exploration and growth.

What this looks like in the classroom

• Daily phonics sessions support early reading and writing, with opportunities to apply learning throughout the day
• Writing is taught through a structured approach, supporting children to build sentences and write with increasing independence
• High-quality texts inspire storytelling, discussion, role play and writing
• Mathematics is taught through short, focused sessions alongside opportunities to practise through play
• Continuous provision allows children to revisit, practise and deepen their learning independently
• Adults provide targeted support through guided group work to ensure appropriate challenge
• Children develop independence, resilience and confidence in preparation for Year 1.

Transition into Year 1

As children move through the Summer Term, we carefully prepare them for their transition into Year 1. At Dorridge, transition is not treated as a single event, but as a gradual and supportive process which helps children feel confident, secure and ready for the next stage of their learning.

Reception and Year 1 staff work closely together to share information, understand the needs of the cohort and ensure continuity in teaching approaches, particularly in phonics, early writing and the wider curriculum. This helps children build on the strong foundations developed in Reception while gradually becoming familiar with the expectations and routines of Year 1.

Throughout the term, children have opportunities to visit the Year 1 classrooms, spend time with Year 1 staff and become familiar with new routines and learning spaces. Year 1 practitioners also visit Reception to read familiar stories and begin building positive relationships with the children.

For children who may need additional support, including those with SEND or those who may find change more difficult, we plan carefully with families, staff and the SENDCO where needed. This may include additional transition meetings, personalised transition books or extra opportunities to become familiar with key adults and environments.

Our aim is for every child to leave Reception feeling successful, capable and proud of their achievements, ready to continue their learning journey into Year 1.

To support the teaching of early reading, we follow the Essential Letters and Sounds (ELS) programme.

Children take part in daily phonics sessions where they learn letter sounds and how to blend these to read words. They are also taught how to recognise common words and apply their phonics knowledge when reading and writing.

We provide weekly sound packs to support learning at home, matched to the sounds being taught in school. These include opportunities to practise blending, letter formation and recognising key words.

ELS Phonics Information Evening  

For more information on how we teach Phonics, visit our Phonics page.

Reading in EYFS  consists of two dimensions: 
Word reading and Comprehension (both listening and reading). 

Children develop their reading skills through daily phonics, guided reading and regular opportunities to share books. They are taught how to decode unfamiliar words and recognise familiar words quickly and confidently.

Alongside this, we place a strong emphasis on developing a love of reading. Through stories, rhymes, poems and non-fiction texts, children build their understanding of the world and develop the language skills needed for both reading and writing

For information on how we teach and deliver reading, please click HERE      

For an update on our reading scheme and some tips and advice to support you at home, click HERE

In the Early Years , children develop their mathematical skills through play, exploration, active learning, and critical thinking, both indoors and outdoors. We provide a balance of continuous provision, routines, incidental learning opportunities, and carefully planned sessions, ensuring that children build a secure understanding of early mathematics.

Children build a secure understanding of number through counting, recognising and representing numbers, as well as beginning to explore simple addition and subtraction. They also develop their understanding of patterns and relationships within numbers.

In addition, children explore shape, space and measure by investigating 2D and 3D shapes, using positional language and making comparisons.

These experiences support children in becoming confident, curious and independent mathematicians.

Children are supported to form letters correctly from the start. We teach letter formation alongside phonics to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Developing correct formation early is important, as it becomes more difficult to change habits later on. Children practise regularly through both adult-led sessions and independent activities.

Please click for more information on our handwriting scheme.  

Physical Development

Children develop their physical skills through PE lessons, outdoor learning and continuous provision. They build gross motor skills such as running, jumping and balancing, alongside fine motor skills needed for writing, such as pencil control and using tools.

Expressive Arts and Design

Creativity is a key part of our curriculum. Children explore music, art, dance and imaginative play, allowing them to express their ideas and develop confidence and imagination.

Understanding the World

Children learn about the world around them through hands-on experiences, including exploring nature, learning about different cultures and beginning to understand everyday technology. We value the partnership between home and school in building a full picture of each child’s development.

Outdoor Learning

Our outdoor environment is an essential part of the curriculum and is used daily in all weathers. Children take part in activities such as water play, construction, exploration and imaginative play, supporting all areas of learning.

Please ensure children have appropriate clothing, including a waterproof coat and wellies, so they can fully access outdoor learning.

As part of our Physical Development curriculum, the children take part in weekly FootiBugs sessions, led by experienced coaches. Using fun, football-based activities, the children not only build their physical skills such as coordination, balance and control, but also develop important personal and social skills.

Through games and team challenges, children learn to listen carefully, share, take turns and work together, supporting the Early Learning Goals for Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. These sessions are active, engaging and designed to build confidence, teamwork and a love of being active.          

This term we are encouraging the children to become VIPs –
Very Independent People!

We support children to take responsibility for their belongings, dress themselves and manage everyday routines independently. You can help at home by encouraging your child to practise dressing and organising their belongings.

We welcome donations of outdoor equipment or junk modelling materials such as clean bottles and containers. These resources support creativity and imaginative play within our provision.

 PE Kits and School Uniform

Please ensure all clothing is clearly labelled, as children are becoming increasingly independent.

During the year, children take part in a wide range of messy, hands-on learning experiences. While we use aprons, children may occasionally come home a little messy—this is often a sign of a busy and engaging day of learning.

Children attend assemblies regularly, including a weekly celebration assembly where achievements are shared across Key Stage 1. Each week, one child from each class is recognised for their effort and achievements.