Early Years

Welcome to our Early Years Department, where every child is valued, nurtured and encouraged to flourish. We believe the early years are a unique and exciting stage of childhood, laying the foundations for future happiness, confidence, wellbeing and a lifelong love of learning.

At Little APS, children begin their Early Years journey in a warm, caring and inspiring environment where they are supported to grow in confidence, independence and curiosity through play, exploration and meaningful relationships.

Research shows that children learn more rapidly during their early years than at any other stage of life. We place great importance on strong relationships and a sense of belonging, helping children develop the confidence and resilience needed to embrace new experiences and challenges.

Our experienced Early Years team delivers a broad, balanced and engaging curriculum based on the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, carefully planned around each child’s interests and stage of development. Learning is delivered through purposeful play, exploration and meaningful experiences that encourage children to investigate, create and problem-solve.

Alongside classroom learning, children benefit from specialist teaching in Sport, Music, Spanish, Art and Drama, helping to develop creativity, confidence and physical skills. Throughout the year, we enrich learning through a range of experiences including Stay and Play sessions, Mystery Readers, seasonal celebrations, and International Week.

Strong partnerships with parents and carers are central to everything we do. We believe children thrive when home and school work together, supported by regular communication throughout each child’s Early Years journey. We use Evidence Me to share observations, photographs and videos of learning, allowing families to celebrate progress and contribute to their son’s development.

From their first days at Little APS, our aim is to provide every child with the strongest possible start to their education. We are proud to create an environment where children feel happy, secure and inspired to become confident, independent and enthusiastic learners.

We look forward to welcoming your family into our community.

 

Little APS Early Years Journey

At Little APS, our Early Years provision is made up of Pioneers, Adventurers and Explorers, providing a continuous journey of learning from the very beginning through to school readiness.

Children move through each stage at their own pace, building confidence, independence and a love of learning through play, exploration and strong relationships.

Pioneers (Nursery - Available approximately 47 weeks of the year)

Our youngest children begin their journey in a warm, nurturing environment focused on security, wellbeing and early development through play.

Adventurers (Nursery – Available approximately 47 weeks of the year)

Children grow in confidence and independence through engaging, play-based learning shaped by their interests.

Explorers (Pre-School - Term time plus Holiday Club)

Our Pre-School children develop key school readiness skills as learning becomes more structured while remaining creative and active.

Reception (Early Years – Term time plus Holiday Club)

Reception is the final stage of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

Building on the strong foundations established in Explorers, children transition into more structured learning while still benefiting from a play-rich and engaging curriculum.

This stage supports children to develop confidence, independence and key academic skills as they prepare for Key Stage 1.

 

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