The Early Years Foundation Stage, which is statutory in all schools, is the first part of the National Curriculum focussing on the distinct needs of children aged from birth to the end of the Reception year in primary school.

Little Crackers is carefully structured for two-year-olds, three-year-olds and pre-school. The philosophy for our Early Years Foundation Stage follows the exciting Reggio Emilia approach to learning. The environment is the third educator and focuses on the children's interests, enabling them to play and learn whilst having fun with adults that understand and care about them.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is organised into six broad areas of learning:

- Personal, social and emotional development:

- Communication, language and literacy;

- Problem solving, reasoning and numeracy;

- Knowledge and understanding of the world

- Creative development

- Physical development

Our children also benefit from trying new activities at an early age including dance, music, PE and French lessons, all taught by specialist teachers.

During the Early Years each individual child is learning through high quality play that's tailored specifically to them, so they develop at their own pace, having fun, making friends and learning as they play. The become confident and secure children, who, when the time comes, are better prepared for school and to reach their full potential.