Teaching and learning

At New Ford Academy we strive for outstanding teaching and learning experiences for our children.  This is achieved through the following features; 

• A quality, purposeful, play based approach to learning. 
• Well planned, challenging, learning activities that meet the needs of all children allowing them to make the best progress possible. 
• Learning experiences that follow children’s interests to allow them to be active, motivated learners.  
• High quality provision indoors and outdoors. 
• Activities that promote creative and critical thinking. 
• Activities that promote independence in learning and self-care. 
• A balanced range of focused sessions, guided/adult led sessions, and child initiated learning. 
• High quality interaction with adults in the setting, to develop language and communication skills. 
• Positive relationships with adults and children. 
• A safe and secure learning environment. 
• A strong partnership between staff and parents. 
• Quality liaison between our school and the settings that our children experience prior to, during and after their time with us. 
• Staff who have vision, passion and a clear understanding of the aims of the EYFS and a commitment to evaluate and improve what we do. 

Our EYFS curriculum underpins all future learning. ‘The Statutory Requirements for EYFS’, ‘Development Matters’ and ‘Birth to 5 Matters’ are three of the key documents that we use to inform the planning of our hands on, topic based curriculum. There are seven areas of learning, divided into the three prime areas of: 

• Communication and language 
• Physical development 
• Personal, social and emotional development 

and the four specific areas, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied: 

• Literacy 
• Mathematics 
• Understanding the world 
• Expressive arts and design 

At New Ford Academy we support, foster, promote and develop children`s:- 

• personal, social and emotional development, promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of the group and the community so that a strong self image and self esteem are promoted.

• positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning, in particular, an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners.

• social skills, in particular by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside and with each other, and to listen to each other.

• attention skills and persistence, in particular, the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks.

• communication and language skills, with opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and each other, to practise and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use and to listen carefully.
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• physical development, with opportunities for all children to develop and practise their fine and gross motor skills and to increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe.

• literacy skills, including reading and writing, with opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use letters, sounds, words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books.

• mathematics, with opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space by providing a broad range of contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practise and talk about them.

• understanding of the world, with opportunities for all children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan and question in a variety of contexts, learn about our world and explore and find out about their environment and people, cultures and places that have significance in their lives and in the wider world.

• expressive arts and design skills, with opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings, through a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role play activities.

We believe that all our children matter.  Children with additional needs, Special Educational Needs, or those who are gifted or talented are given extra support or challenge depending on the nature of their needs.

You can find out more information in our school policies or via the DfE website.