Teaching team

Our teacher is Mrs Hobbs and our teaching assistants are Mrs Reed, Mrs Camen-Tecu and Miss Treherne.

In the Foundation Stage our aim is to provide the very best start in life for your child by developing the skills they need to become independent learners. We follow the statutory framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which sets the standards for learning and development for all children up to the end of their Nursery year, ready for Reception.

Learning through play underpins all of the EYFS, and the framework is split into three 'prime' areas of learning and development and four 'specific' areas of learning and development.

Areas of Learning and Development

Prime Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Whilst these seven areas provide a framework for the early years curriculum, within Nursery the prime areas are fundamental in developing the specific areas.

At Riverside Academy we recognise that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending the children’s development. We aim to create an attractive, welcoming and stimulating learning environment.

We also aim to make it a place where children feel secure and confident, and are challenged to develop their independence. Activities are planned for both the inside and outside environment. Children have the opportunities to engage in the indoor and outdoor classroom throughout the school day.

On-going formative assessment is at the heart of our practice. We observe children, which allows staff to plan experiences and learning opportunities through a highly structured environment in order to deepen children’s understanding and drive their learning forward to the next stage.

To promote a love of reading and to inspire their writing we read a range of books linked to our topics.

Exciting Learning Opportunities

We have a wonderful outdoor reading area, with a large throne and toad stalls to sit on, where we can share our love for reading, through books, puppets and small world. Our outdoor learning area also features a water wall, mud kitchen, driving school and art studio.

Within the early years, we have decided to create a driving school to support physical development. This type of learning will provide children with numerous goals and the opportunity to ride different level bikes independently.

To view our current learning please follow this link to our photo album on Facebook