At The Kite Academy Trust we are committed to ensuring that our pupils are given the very best start to life, through educational excellence, to ensure we unlock the potential in every child.

We recognise that investing in the early years is fundamental in ensuring that all children benefit from the strongest start in their early life. By prioritising our work in the early years we ensure a strong foundation for every child’s future well-being and success.

In four of our academies, Hale, Lakeside, Mytchett and Sandringham, this strong start begins from the age of 2, in our nursery provision. In others, this will start with the reception year at age 4.

Our EYFS curriculum is guided by the EYFS Statutory Framework, ensuring high standards of learning, development, health, and safety, and equipping children with the skills they need to begin school confidently.

Learning is structured across seven interconnected areas: three prime areas—communication and language, physical development, and personal, social and emotional development—which form the foundation for learning; and four specific areas—literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts and design. Our curriculum is carefully sequenced and aligned with Key Stages 1 and 2 to support smooth progression.

Children learn through a balance of planned, purposeful play and a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities. Play is central to developing confidence, problem-solving skills, and relationships. Our skilled staff respond to each child’s interests and needs through warm, supportive interactions, fostering development across all areas. Teaching is underpinned by the three Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning: playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically, helping children become motivated, resilient, and independent learners.

Our continuous provision allows children to play and learn in different areas whilst developing and targeting foundational skills and knowledge that will underpin their journey through primary education. The Nursery day includes short carpet sessions where the children begin to develop their communication and language, phonics and mathematics skills. They explore the world around them through our topic-based approach. We know that the youngest members of our school community thrive when they are a part of the wider school and this provides them with many opportunities to learn and grow from their older peers.

We firmly believe that in order for children to succeed during their time in primary education, the Reception year must provide every child with an excellent start to school life. The Reception day allows the children to fully explore our continuous provision and also includes short and specific adult directed teaching and tasks. There are focused teacher led sessions in phonics, reading, writing and mathematics every day alongside topic-based learning to support children’s developing understanding of the world around them. The rich learning environment, supported by high quality adult interactions, provides every one of our pupils with the core skills and knowledge they need to succeed.