Core Books/ Early Reading

To foster a love of reading and immerse children in rich, meaningful vocabulary, we link many of our teaching opportunities to high-quality, well-loved storybooks, known as our core books. These stories are revisited regularly, allowing children to develop familiarity, confidence and a deeper understanding of language.

During their time in the Oak family, children are introduced to phonics, which provides the foundations for early reading and writing. In Nursery, children have many opportunities to explore sounds through games, songs and rhymes, with a focus on listening skills, sound discrimination and rhyming. When children are ready, they are gradually introduced to letter sounds.

This is an exciting stage of learning, as children begin to apply their phonics knowledge to read words independently and develop confidence as early readers. We follow the Read Write Inc. (RWI) phonics programme to ensure a consistent and systematic approach to early reading.

If you would like any further information about our approach to phonics or early reading, please do not hesitate to speak to a member of the Early Years team.

Early Writing and Maths

In our EYFS setting, we believe that developing strong language and physical skills is the foundation for confident early writing. Before children begin to mark-make or write, we focus on supporting their speech, vocabulary, and storytelling abilities, alongside building their fine motor skills, such as pencil grip and hand-eye coordination, and gross motor skills, like arm strength and control. Once these skills are in place, children are encouraged to explore writing in fun, engaging ways that connect to their individual interests and the core books we share. This approach ensures that early writing is meaningful, enjoyable, and deeply connected to their learning journey.

In EYFS, we teach maths through hands-on, meaningful experiences that help children really understand how numbers and shapes work, rather than just memorising facts. Activities are carefully planned to build their confidence and understanding step by step. In Reception, we follow the NCETM’s Mastering Number Programme, which supports children in developing a strong foundation in counting, number bonds, and early calculation skills through fun, practical learning.