Welcome to EYFS at Brookfield

The first year of school is an exciting time for both parents and children. Starting school is a special milestone in the lives of families, and we feel privileged to share this experience with you. Together, we will support each other through the amazing adventure that lies ahead. 

In our Reception class, we work together to ensure that your child experiences a fun, stimulating and active learning environment, helping them reach their full potential across all aspects of the curriculum. We recognise that every child is unique, and we cater to this by offering inclusive learning experiences. We are confident that your child will enjoy the new challenges and learning approaches as they begin their journey at Brookfield with our experienced EYFS team and school family.

Meet the Team

• Miss Hodgson (Class Teacher):

  I have been privileged to work in the Early Years Foundation Stage as a Reception Teacher for the past ten years. This is my third year at Brookfield, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of such a wonderful community of staff, children and families.

  Early Years is my true passion, and I am so excited to support your child as they flourish throughout the year in so many ways. I am passionate about helping every child reach their full potential and creating a high-quality learning environment where teaching, planning and provision come to life through rich experiences, imaginative role play and sensory-based learning.

  Alongside my role in Reception, I am also proud to be our KS1 Lead. This allows me to use my experience and expertise across both Early Years and Key Stage 1 to ensure our children develop strong foundations from the very beginning, with a smooth and purposeful transition into the next stage of their learning.

  I truly believe that every teacher has the power to shape a child’s journey, and it is a privilege to give your child the very best start to their education; nurturing their confidence, independence and love of learning along the way.

• Miss McElhome (Higher-Level Teaching Assistant): 

  I am proud to be a long-standing member of the Brookfield team and absolutely love being part of Early Years. I cover Miss Hodgson’s Leadership and SENDCo time each Wednesday and Friday morning, so you’ll see me regularly throughout the week.

  I first joined Brookfield as a volunteer while studying for my degree and, through my hard work and passion for teaching, have progressed to become a full-time HLTA. I am fortunate to work across all year groups, giving me a strong understanding of curriculum progression and allowing me to support children and families throughout their school journey.

  I truly love my job and cannot wait to work with you and your children!

• Mrs Smith (Teaching Assistant): 

  I have a real passion for working with young children and have experience across a range of Early Years settings, caring for children from babies through to preschool. I particularly enjoy working within the Reception age of the Early Years Foundation Stage, where every day brings something new, exciting and wonderfully unpredictable!

  I love seeing the world through children’s eyes and being inspired by their curiosity, creativity and wonderful imaginations. I believe children learn best when they feel happy, supported and confident to explore, create and have fun. I feel privileged to be part of those special moments where children’s personalities begin to shine, and they develop a love for learning.

• Miss Sanders (SEND Teaching Assistant):

  I play an important role in supporting our strong foundations approach, working alongside the class team to ensure every child feels supported, confident and ready to learn.

  I provide targeted support for children with SEND and additional needs, helping to remove barriers to learning while promoting independence, confidence and positive relationships. Through nurturing support and purposeful interactions, I help our children to engage and develop the skills they need for their next stage of learning.

We are also very fortunate to have some wonderful students work with us in EYFS throughout the year. These students have come to our school with the purpose of also making a positive difference in the children's lives, whilst learning through College/University. Our students are very much valued as part of the EYFS team. Any student who comes to work with us will be introduced to you and your children.

Our Learning Approach

We believe that every child is unique and learns continuously through positive relationships, a stimulating environment and rich learning experiences. Our curriculum offers a balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning, nurturing curiosity, encouraging independence and fostering a love of learning.

Our indoor and outdoor classrooms provide children with a wealth of practical, purposeful experiences. Each day includes dedicated sessions for Phonics, Literacy, Mathematics and Reading, with additional curriculum areas planned throughout the week. Further details can be found on our class timetable.

Stories are at the heart of our learning, with daily story time providing opportunities to develop language, imagination and a deeper understanding of the world. Throughout the year, we explore a range of engaging topics and experiences that build on children’s interests and prior learning.

At the heart of our approach are strong foundations. We prioritise the development of essential knowledge, skills, confidence and independence, ensuring every child is well-prepared for their next stage of learning. Through high-quality teaching, purposeful provision and meaningful experiences, we create secure foundations from which every child can flourish and achieve their full potential.

Our School Ethos

At Brookfield, our ethos, vision, and values are at the core of everything we do. We live by our mission statement: "Many hearts make a school" and emphasise our protected characteristics. Our children will:

• Be happy and secure

• Be high-achieving learners, making excellent progress in relation to prior attainment

• Be enthusiastic and highly motivated to learn

• Develop key skills

• Be good role models, demonstrate positive attitudes and behaviours characterised by high self-esteem, independence, resilience and responsibility

• Be respectful to other children and adults

• Be respectful of the school environment

• Become well-rounded citizens

 

Our school values are: Respect, Resilience, Kindness, Inclusivity and Independence.

We promote these values daily but also have a whole-school focus each half-term on each aspect.