Transition to School!

Starting school is an important milestone, and we prioritise making this transition as smooth and supportive as possible for every child.

We place strong relationships at the heart of everything we do. By building trusting connections with children and families, we ensure each child feels safe, secure, and ready to learn. Our approach is relational, with adults responding sensitively and supporting children through co-regulation as they begin to understand and manage their emotions.

In the early weeks, we focus on the prime areas of learning:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
Communication and Language (C&L)
Physical Development (PD)

These areas underpin children’s confidence, independence, and readiness to learn.

To support this transition, every child joining Woodthorpe receives a transitional toy as a bridge between home and school. These provide comfort and familiarity, helping children move from reliance on adult support towards greater independence and self-regulation as they grow in confidence.

We work closely with families to ensure every child’s start to school is positive, nurturing, and successful.

Moving On!

The Early Years Foundation Stage provides a strong foundation for your child's education, focusing on key developmental milestones and skills that set the stage for future learning. While EYFS concludes for most children at the age of 5, they will shortly embark on the National Curriculum, which will guide their learning through Years 1 to 6.

Our aim here at Woodthorpe is to develop a curriculum that is progressive and also builds upon the skills children have acquired during their time in Reception. We work hard to ensure that the transition is as smooth as possible, with a focus on continuity in learning and the nurturing of each child's individual potential.

We pride ourselves on fostering a strong family atmosphere at Woodthorpe, and the children build strong relationships with all staff and peers in school from starting with us. During the summer term staff have meetings to discuss the children's strengths, interests and next steps (including any support they might need when moving into year one). All these steps ensure a smooth transition into their next learning chapter.

Information about how the Early Years Curriculum links to the National Curriculum subject areas can be found here.

EYFS links to National Curriculum