Best Practice

Achieving outstanding early years provision

Leadership/school profiles Whole-school issues
By the time the children at Eastfield Primary Academy leave Reception they are well prepared for year 1. However, the children enter the nursery school below their expected level of development. So, how does the school achieve this level of progress? Suzanne O’Connell found out

Their Ofsted report is glowing and Eastfield’s early years provision is outstanding. The school’s executive principal is Rebecca Clayton and Anna Rawlings is assistant principal and early years co-ordinator. They are both committed to the importance of this stage of a child’s education.

Ms Rawlings explained: “It’s vital to get your intervention and support right in the early years. It’s the foundation for the rest of their school life.”

The early years department at Eastfield does not work in isolation. It is a valued and integrated part of the school; a key component of its “nurturing” environment. Ms Rawlings and Ms Clayton see the nurture ethos encapsulated in their “My Space” provision. This is a safe haven where children at risk of exclusion in other schools spend a period of time and have their needs addressed before returning to their host school.

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