Early Years and Key Stage 1

We have a mixed-age cohort for our Early Years Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 pupils at Frederick Holmes School. The children are grouped according to their individual health and education needs. Each group, Cygnets or Flamingos, follows a specialised curriculum pathway best suited to meet their sensory or more formal curriculum needs.

Our Cygnets and Flamingos aim to provide an immersive and all-inclusive learning experience that supports children in the three prime areas of learning;

o Communication and Language development

o Physical Development

o Personal, Social and Emotional Development

These three prime areas are vital for building a solid foundation for learning. Pupils will learn to communicate to their full potential and to have their physical and emotional needs met. We also work closely with speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and IPASS, alongside other professionals to further ensure these needs are met.

In our Cygnets group, the children follow the IMPACTS Curriculum and are assessed alongside the Engagement Model.

The four specific areas of learning of the EYFS are key to the Flamingos group and enable our pupils to have a broad, varied and rich curriculum. The difference of offer and experiences provided for these four areas in particular are what sets apart the two groups and their curriculums. These four areas are;

o Literacy

o Mathematics

o Understanding of the World

o Expressive arts and design

All of our learning is very hands on, with a play-based focus. We provide a range of multi-sensory experiences and make full use of our whole-school facilities including food technology room, 4D room, Rebound, sensory areas, hydrotherapy pool and soft play. We have our own safe and secure outdoor areas and use the outdoors as much as possible. We have lots of fun!

Our staff are highly knowledgeable, dedicated and enthusiastic. They are keen to get to know you and your child and are always available to answer your questions. Children in these classes work on topics and themes similar to those studied throughout the school so they can be fully involved with whole school activities, where appropriate.