Early Years Foundation Stage Cluster

An Early Years Foundation Stage Cluster group set up by Prestfelde School to link with other Maintained and Non-Maintained Schools and Nurseries to share good practice and support each other in the development of new initiative to improve outcomes for our local children.

Aims

To share good Early Years Foundation Stage pedagogy and practice locally.

To ensure consistency in understanding and moderation of attainment locally and nationally.

To develop new initiatives to impact positively upon our children's learning and development.

To support each other professionally to share what we know about our children and the challenges for their future.

Background

Prestfelde's Early Years Foundation Stage lead used to be an Early Years Foundation Stage advisor for Shropshire Council. When starting her role at Prestfelde, she was shocked at how the independent sector was not included within the vision and development of new initiatives and information sharing within the local authority. Therefore, using the contacts she already had, set up a cluster groups with likeminded practitioners who were committed to improving outcomes for their children.

This has now evolved and up to 12 different local schools have accessed the cluster group each term.

The cluster has been active for 4 years and has now split into a 3-4 year and 4-5 years group to focus upon specific developments for their age of children.

Resources

Use of school grounds and rooms.

Catering to ensure all teachers feel valued and their needs met after school.

Resources are dependent upon the focus, but usually all contribute and bring resources and evidence to share and discuss.

Prestfelde School funds this.

Impact

The benefits have been excellent as now all my Early Years Foundation Stage staff feel assured that they are in line with local and national agendas and thinking.

Early Years Foundation Stage data is moderated and secure.

New initiatives are implemented with a view to their impact upon children's learning and attainment.

Frequency

Termly meetings after school at 4pm-5pm.