At Great Bowden Academy, Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a safe and happy place to learn, work and play. We believe in developing the ‘whole’ child – socially, morally, emotionally and physically. We are fully committed to providing an engaging and enriching curriculum that enables children to flourish and achieve well.

Learning through play

In the Early Years, play is a strong motivating factor in learning, and it is positively encouraged within the whole school environment both indoors and outdoors. Quality interactions are a part of our quality first teaching which allows children to develop their language, creativity and thinking skills, increasing their confidence. Staff build positive relationships with the children and all children are valued as unique learners. 

The children are guided on a nurturing journey enabling them to become more confident and imaginative learners who have a strong sense of achievement. Our inclusive curriculum promotes independence and encourages children to embrace challenge and to persevere to gain success.

We follow the Early Years Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The Early Years curriculum is taught through seven areas of learning and development.

All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive, these are called the prime areas:

Prime Areas

• Communication and Language Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development

There are four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Primary school applications for Early Years Foundation Stage

The Local Authority has a duty to provide school places to all pupils resident in its area. Leicestershire achieves this by giving high priority to catchment area children and by allowing parental preference wherever possible. Further information about the application process and access to the online application form can be found on the Leicestershire website  

Parents must apply to their home Local Authority for a school place. Great Bowden Academy’s planned admission number for first time admissions (FTA) starting in Reception is 20 pupils per year group.  

The admissions process takes place during your child's preschool year. The application window for children seeking to start school for the first time from autumn 2025 is open form 1st September until 15 January 2025. The national offer date for FTA entry 2025 is 16 April (or the next working day), where you will be notified of your school place before your child starts Reception in September. For further detail please visit Leicestershire County Council website (or your local authority website if you live outside Leicestershire).