Strong Foundations
At Greenacres, we are committed to securing strong foundations that enable every child to thrive, both now and in the future. Our approach is closely aligned with the principles set out in Strong foundations in the first years of school, recognising that children’s earliest experiences, relationships and learning opportunities are critical to their long-term outcomes. We prioritise developmentally appropriate practice, high-quality interactions and a carefully sequenced curriculum that underpins children’s learning, wellbeing and achievement.
Our work to build strong foundations begins well before children formally join the school. Through our 0–3 offer, we work in close partnership with families to support children’s development from birth.
This early engagement is grounded in the Maritime Strong Foundations programme Maritime Academy Trust - Maritime Strong Foundations, the Trust’s commitment to supporting families with babies and toddlers so every child gets the best start in life. Maritime Strong Foundations provides a range of parenting classes, drop-in sessions and early-learning experiences co-produced with parents and carers to complement local support services and strengthen family networks.
Our Greenacres Little Acorns programme is our local expression of this Maritime Strong Foundations work. It provides a welcoming, inclusive and accessible range of coffee mornings, workshops, guest speakers, parent and carer information sessions, and shared learning opportunities for families with babies and toddlers. These sessions place particular emphasis on the prime areas which are; communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and physical development, supporting families to build confidence and a secure understanding of how young children learn and develop.
This early support is further strengthened through our two-year-old provision, Blossoms, which offers a high-quality, nurturing environment led by highly skilled practitioners. The provision is carefully designed to support children in developing the key skills, dispositions and confidence needed to thrive in the next stage of their learning.
Our nursery, Cherry Tree, builds seamlessly on this strong foundation, providing rich, purposeful and engaging learning experiences across all areas of the EYFS. Through high-quality interactions, well-planned provision and a strong focus on personal, social and emotional development, children are supported to develop independence, curiosity and resilience, ensuring they are well prepared for a confident and successful transition into Reception.
In EYFS and Key Stage 1, we maintain a sharp focus on the development of the foundational skills children need to succeed across the curriculum. These key skills are clearly identified, explicitly taught and carefully tracked throughout the year, enabling staff to identify gaps early and respond swiftly to individual needs. Our curriculum is broad, ambitious and inclusive, supporting children to make strong progress across all seven areas of the EYFS while securing essential foundations in communication and language, early reading and writing, mathematics and physical development. A carefully planned and highly effective transition from EYFS into Key Stage 1 ensures continuity, consistency and sustained progress.
Alongside academic learning, we place significant emphasis on the development of social skills, emotional literacy, the characteristics of effective learning and executive function skills. Through high-quality adult interactions, well-designed learning experiences and consistent expectations, children are supported to develop curiosity, resilience, self-regulation, independence and the ability to plan, focus and reflect. This focus begins in the early years and continues throughout Key Stage 1 and beyond, recognising that these skills are fundamental to lifelong learning and future success.
Our Year 1 provision reflects our commitment to a developmentally appropriate approach that meets children where they are. The curriculum is flexible and responsive, with a continued emphasis on securing key foundational skills, particularly for children who have not yet achieved a Good Level of Development. Children engage in a carefully planned balance of learning experiences, including whole-class instruction, targeted adult-led focus groups, purposeful interventions, and continuous provision that promotes play-based, inquiry-led, and active learning.
Our continuous and enhanced provision is thoughtfully designed to allow children to lead their own learning, both independently and collaboratively, providing opportunities to apply new knowledge and skills across different areas of the classroom. Resources and activities are planned to support critical thinking, concept development, and deeper understanding, enabling children to make connections and consolidate their learning.
This developmentally appropriate approach is flexible to meet the needs of all learners. Children with SEND or those requiring additional support can access activities within the mainstream class with appropriate scaffolding, while teachers can plan enhancements and adult-led activities to address specific learning priorities, such as pre-teaching for children with EAL, fine motor skill development, or gaps in phonics knowledge. The balance of self-directed, collaborative, and adult-led learning gradually adapts throughout the year to ensure children are appropriately challenged, motivated, and supported to become resilient, confident, and curious learners who “know and remember more.”
Through this coherent, carefully sequenced approach, strong foundations underpin everything we do. By working in close partnership with families, investing in high-quality early provision and maintaining a relentless focus on children’s development, learning and wellbeing, we ensure that every child is supported to flourish and is well prepared for the next stage of their education.