Early Years

Early Years learning is for children aged 2-5 and includes our Nursery, Foundation 1 and Foundation 2 stages.

Positive relationships between staff, children, and parents are at the heart of BISJ's Early Years environment. We believe when children feel safe, valued, and understood by familiar adults, they are more likely to explore, take risks, and engage deeply in their learning. We maintain strong partnerships with parents ensuring a consistent approach between home and school, supporting each child’s development in a holistic way. By building trust, open communication, and mutual respect, BISJ's Early Years practitioners create a nurturing environment where children thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

In Nursery, children are beginning their learning journey by exploring the world around them with curiosity and enthusiasm.

The children are developing the Characteristics of Effective Learning by engaging in hands-on play, showing interest in new experiences and beginning to concentrate for short periods during activities. In the Prime Areas, they are learning to express their needs and feelings through gestures and early speech, showing progress in Communication and Language. In Physical Development, children are building strength and coordination through climbing, running, and manipulating toys and tools. Socially and emotionally, they are learning to separate from their carers, form positive relationships, and gain confidence in the learning environment, supporting Personal, Social and Emotional Development. In the Specific Areas, children begin to engage with books and mark-making, laying foundations in Literacy, and explore early mathematical concepts such as sorting, matching, and counting through play-based experiences. They also enjoy sensory play, role-play, music and exploring materials in Expressive Arts and Design, and begin noticing simple features of their environment in Understanding the World.

Our Foundation Stage 1 (FS1) team has a wealth of experience from different backgrounds, and we are excited to be part of your child’s first steps towards becoming a life-long learner.

In FS1, children continue to develop the Characteristics of Effective Learning by showing greater independence, making choices, and engaging in more sustained play. They begin to show perseverance and enjoy solving simple problems, demonstrating increased motivation and involvement in activities. In the Prime Areas, children's Communication and Language skills continue to grow as they use full sentences, ask questions, and follow instructions. Their Physical Development is enhanced through both fine motor activities, like threading and drawing, and gross motor skills, such as balancing and climbing. In Personal, Social and Emotional Development, they are developing an awareness of rules and routines, learning to take turns, and beginning to manage emotions with support. In the Specific Areas, children are becoming familiar with letter sounds and enjoy mark-making with purpose, supporting early Literacy. In Mathematics, they count with increasing accuracy and begin to compare quantities, recognise numerals, and explore simple shapes and patterns. Through Understanding the World, they show interest in nature, family traditions, and technology, while their imagination and creativity flourish in Expressive Arts and Design through role play, music, and art.

Foundation Stage 2 (FS2) is an exciting year for children and teachers, alike. During the year, children are confident, motivated learners who demonstrate the Characteristics of Effective Learning by thinking critically, planning their own play, and showing resilience when encountering difficulties.

In FS2, children actively take part in both adult-led and child-initiated learning, applying what they know to new situations. In the Prime Areas, their Communication and Language skills are continuing to develop, enabling them to participate in conversations, use descriptive language, and listen with focus. Physical Development continues to strengthen through refined control in writing and physical activities, with increasing awareness of healthy practices. Their Personal, Social and Emotional Development is evident in their ability to form friendships, work cooperatively, and show empathy towards others. In the Specific Areas, children demonstrate strong Literacy skills by reading letters, simple words, sentences and writing for different purposes using phonetic knowledge and growing vocabulary. In Mathematics, they can add and subtract within 20, solve practical problems, and recognise patterns, shapes, and measures. Their understanding of people, places, and the natural world continues to expand through purposeful experiences in Understanding the World, while in Expressive Arts and Design, they confidently create, perform, and express ideas through a wide range of media and materials.