Early Years Partnership Launch

I am delighted to share some exciting developments within our Trust, particularly focusing on our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision. We recently launched our EYFS network, bringing together EYFS teachers and leaders from every school in the Trust. This initiative, led by Lynda Trueman from Early Excellence, marks a significant step in our commitment to enhancing early years education across the Trust.

The launch event was a hive of activity and learning, exploring the intricate connections between adults, pupils, and the EYFS environment. We delved into how these elements intertwine to create effective learning and development opportunities for our youngest pupils. The session emphasised the importance of balancing learning, playing, and teaching – a cornerstone of early years education.

A key focus of the day was the concept of 'irresistible provision' and creating learning environments that captivate and engage our pupils. We discussed various classroom layouts, sharing ideas and best practices to optimise our spaces for learning. This collaborative approach has already sparked creativity and innovation amongst our staff.

Looking ahead, we've crafted an action plan for the EYFS across the Soke Education Trust which will guide our efforts to continually improve and align our early years provision. One exciting aspect of this plan is our commitment to explore each area of provision within EYFS in depth. From role-play areas to workshop spaces, every school will have the opportunity to share best practices and innovative ideas, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared learning.

To support this initiative, our assisted network meetings will continue throughout the rest of this academic year and into the Autumn term, with ongoing guidance from Lynda. These sessions will provide invaluable opportunities for our staff to collaborate, learn, and grow together.

Two members of our team will be instrumental in driving this initiative forward. Chantelle from John Clare Primary School and Jo from Werrington Primary School have been appointed as our new EYFS network coordinators. They will work closely with Lynda to develop EYFS provision across the Soke Trust and ensure that our network meetings are as effective and beneficial as possible for all participants.

This EYFS network initiative represents our commitment to providing the best possible start for our pupils. By fostering collaboration, sharing expertise, and continually striving for excellence, we are laying the foundations for our pupils to thrive throughout their educational journey. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on our EYFS provision and, most importantly, on the learning experiences of our pupils.

Elaine Crane
Director of Education