--- title: "Early Years" url: "https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/eyfs" school: "St. Mary's Catholic Primary School" --- **Tel:** 01325 300339 **Email:** office@stmarysna.bhcet.org.uk # Early Years **Welcome to St Mary's Catholic Primary School** At St Mary's Catholic Primary School, we are dedicated to providing a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. Our school is a one-form entry institution, meaning we have a single class per year group, ensuring a close-knit and supportive community for all our students. ![](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/images/pages/15013fc50f2ab4652daba1787dcd6b16.png) **Reception Class** Our Reception class offers 30 places, providing a warm and welcoming start to your child's educational journey. We focus on creating a stimulating and engaging learning environment that fosters curiosity and a love for learning from an early age. **Our Mission** Our mission, **Called by God**, is to inspire and empower our students to achieve their full potential academically, socially, and spiritually. We are committed to delivering a high-quality education rooted in Catholic values, promoting respect, compassion, and a sense of community. **Designated Outdoor Environment and Sensory Pod** We are proud to offer a designated outdoor environment and access to a sensory pod for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). These facilities provide a safe and supportive space for all our students to explore and learn. **Support for SEND Students** Our children benefit from teaching assistants who are trained in intensive interactions, early communicators, and Attention Autism. This specialized support ensures that every child receives the attention and care they need to thrive. **Curriculum** We offer a broad and balanced curriculum that caters to the individual needs of each child. Our children are taught the **Sounds Write Programme**, which is designed to develop their phonics and literacy skills effectively. Additionally, English is taught through the **Talk for Writing** approach, which helps students develop their writing skills by imitating, innovating, and inventing stories. **Continuous Provision** ![](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/images/pages/f2367a12e281b16022c087dfb794f5e6.png) We provide continuous provision that supports learning through play, aligning with the principles outlined in the Ofsted **Strong Foundations** document. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/strong-foundations-in-the-first-years-of-school/strong-foundations-in-the-first-years-of-school This approach ensures that children have the best start in life by building strong foundational knowledge and skills. **Communication with Parents** We believe in maintaining strong communication with parents and guardians. We use the **SeeSaw app** to celebrate successes and share experiences, ensuring that families are always connected to their child's learning journey. For more information on the Sounds Write Programme, please visit the [Sounds Write parents page](https://sounds-write.co.uk/support-for-parents-and-carers/) **Community and Values** At St Mary's, we believe in the importance of a strong partnership between home, school, and parish. We encourage active participation from parents and guardians in school activities and events, fostering a sense of belonging and community. ### Characteristics of Effective Learning in Reception ![](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/images/pages/e19536148e1ddba904e5df19a9c34e61.png) In Reception, the characteristics of effective learning are fundamental to children's development and success. These characteristics include playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically. Through playing and exploring, children engage with their environment, showing curiosity and enthusiasm as they discover new things. Active learning involves children being motivated and persistent, enjoying their achievements and learning from their experiences. Creating and thinking critically allows children to develop their problem-solving skills, make connections, and think creatively. These characteristics foster a love for learning and help children become confident, independent learners. ### Characteristics of effective learning Characteristics of effective learning 48 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Characteristics_of_Effective_Learning_(1).pdf) ### Areas of Learning in Reception ![](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/images/pages/1c40073d60a445df92ecfd82118eabce.png) 1. **Communication and Language**: Developing listening, speaking, and understanding skills. 2. **Physical Development**: Enhancing gross and fine motor skills, coordination, and overall physical health. 3. **Personal, Social, and Emotional Development**: Building self-confidence, managing feelings, and forming positive relationships. 4. **Literacy**: Learning to read and write, understanding phonics, and developing a love for books. 5. **Mathematics**: Understanding numbers, shapes, space, and measures. 6. **Understanding the World**: Exploring the environment, people, technology, and communities. 7. **Expressive Arts and Design**: Encouraging creativity through art, music, dance, and imaginative play. ![](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/images/pages/5f9c0d7444d1358a7ade03c43161a1d8.png) ### Communication and language Communication and language 79 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Communication_and_Language_(2).pdf) ### Physical Development Physical Development 82 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Physical_Development_(1).pdf) ### Personal, social and emotional development Personal, emotional and social development 95 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Personal,social_and_emotional_development.pdf) ### Literacy Literacy 846 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Literacy_(1).pdf) ### Mathematics Mathematics 174 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Mathematics_(1).pdf) ### Understanding the world Understanding the world 109 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Understanding_the_World_(1).pdf) ### Expressive Arts and Design Expressive Arts and design 99 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Expressive_Arts_and_Design(1).pdf) Expressive Arts and Design 99 KB [Open for printing](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/files/documents/Expressive_Arts_and_Design.pdf) **Sounds Write** ![](https://forms.zohopublic.eu/soundswrite/downloadlogoperma?filepath=/zf-themes-zf/zf-customthemes-zf/1719234125035_1.png) At St Mary's we teach a highly effective phonics program to teach children how to read and write. It focuses on developing children's understanding of the relationship between sounds (phonemes) and letters (graphemes). Through a structured and systematic approach, children learn to blend sounds to read words and segment words into sounds for spelling. This method helps build a strong foundation in literacy, enabling children to become confident and proficient readers and writers. The program is engaging and interactive, making learning fun and accessible for young learners **Join Us** We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our school, our values, and the opportunities we offer. If you have any questions or would like to arrange a visit, please do not hesitate to contact us ### PARENTS & PUPILS - [Our School](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/term-dates) - [Key Documents](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/key-information/policies) - [News](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/news) - [Curriculum](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/curriculum-subjects) - [Curriculum and Culture](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/curriculum-and-culture) - [Curriculum Subjects](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/curriculum-subjects) - [Long Term Learning](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/long-term-learning) - [EYFS](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/eyfs) - [Remote Learning](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/learning/remote-learning) - [British Values](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/catholic-life/british-values) - [Protected Characteristics](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/protected-characteristics) - [Golden Threads](https://stmarysna.bhcet.org.uk/curriculum/golden-threads) - [Personal Development](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/curriculum/personal-development) ![St. Mary's Catholic Primary School](https://files.schudio.com/st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2/images/logo/Bishop_Hogarth_and_Hexham_Logo_new_(1).png) ### St. Mary's Catholic Primary School Central Avenue Newton Aycliffe Co. Durham DL5 5NP 01325 300339 ### Social Media - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/stmaryscatholicprimaryschool/) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/stmarys_newtonacyliffe/) ### Translation ### Office 365 [Sign in to Office 365](https://outlook.office.com/) © Copyright 2025–2026 St. Mary's Catholic Primary School School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://st-mary-s-catholic-primary-school-durham-2.schudio.com/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)