At Bridstow CE Primary School, we warmly welcome children aged 3 in our Little Hedgehogs Nursery and children joining Reception. We believe that every child deserves a happy, nurturing and inspiring start to their educational journey, and we work closely with families to help children settle quickly and flourish.

In Hedgehog Class, learning is built around curiosity, exploration and meaningful experiences. Through a balance of adult-led teaching, child-initiated play and rich outdoor learning, children develop the confidence, independence and resilience needed for lifelong learning.

Our EYFS curriculum is underpinned by the principles of the Harmony approach, helping children learn from nature, understand connections within the world around them and develop respect for people, places and the environment. We also use Talk for Writing strategies to develop children's speaking, listening, storytelling, reading and early writing skills through high-quality texts, oral storytelling and imaginative play.

We place a strong emphasis on:

• Communication and language development
• Early reading and phonics
• Personal, social and emotional wellbeing
• Physical development and active learning
• Creativity, curiosity and problem-solving
• Learning through play, exploration and first-hand experiences

Children learn through the seven areas of learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage, with activities carefully planned to meet individual needs and build on children's interests and starting points.

Our aim is for every child to become a confident, capable and enthusiastic learner who is well prepared for the next stage of their education.

How Children Learn

We recognise that children learn best when they are actively involved in their learning. Throughout Hedgehog Class we encourage children to:

• Play and Explore by investigating, discovering and having a go
• Learn Actively by concentrating, persevering and celebrating success
• Think Creatively and Critically by developing their own ideas, making connections and solving problems

These characteristics of effective learning are at the heart of everything we do and help children develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive.