Early Years at The Mill Academy

In our Early Years foundation stage at The Mill Academy, we lay the strong foundations that enable every child to thrive. We believe in nurturing curiosity, independence, and confidence through a rich and engaging curriculum that develops communication, personal development, physical skills, and early literacy and numeracy.

Our Early Years programme is designed to be welcoming and child-centred. From the moment children join, we focus on establishing positive relationships, safe routines, and joyful learning experiences. Our staff pay close attention to each child as an individual: understanding their interests, strengths, and needs so that learning is both meaningful and motivating.

Curriculum and Learning Environment
Children’s learning is structured around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. We balance adult-led teaching with child-initiated play, ensuring opportunities for exploration, discovery, creativity, and skill development. The areas of learning include:

• Communication and Language

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

We use knowledge organisers, high-quality texts, rhymes, and rich language interactions to build vocabulary and comprehension. Phonics begins from the earliest stages using Read Write Inc., helping children to begin to recognise and use sounds and simple words. Our approach to early number sense includes counting, pattern-making, shape, space, and measures within everyday contexts to make math learning feel natural and relevant.

Implementation
Our teaching uses the Accelerated Learning Cycle across all Early Years lessons, which means children are encouraged to engage actively, consolidate understanding, and apply what they’ve learnt in lots of varied and playful ways. Lessons are planned in manageable steps that build on prior learning, with frequent checks to ensure every child is progressing.

We create the classroom environment to be stimulating, safe, and full of opportunity—indoor and outdoors. Children have access to continuous provision, where they can choose, explore, and apply skills independently, guided by adults who observe, scaffold, and extend learning.

Play and purpose are central: children learn through doing, exploring, and asking questions. They are supported to develop confidence in communication, in expressing themselves, and in making friendships. Physical skills are developed through fine motor activities and gross motor play, both indoors and outdoors.

What Parents Can Expect
We believe that strong partnerships with parents are key. Early Years staff will share children’s progress regularly and suggest how to support learning at home—through reading, talk, number games, and everyday activities. Key transitions (start of school, moving up into Year 1) are carefully managed to help children feel secure and confident.

Contact and Inclusion
Every child is valued at The Mill Academy. Our Early Years curriculum is inclusive and adapts to children’s individual needs. We work closely with families, external agencies, and specialists to ensure that children with additional needs receive the support they need to succeed.