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activities, positive and supportive interactions, and a strong partnership with parents. This holistic approach ensures that children are not only prepared academically but also develop a lifelong love for learning. DESIGNED FOR LEARNING We actively involve parents and carers in supporting children’s learning and development in EYFS. Our parental engagement strategies include improving the quality of learning that takes place in the home learning environment, providing simple guidance about how they can support their child, encouraging positive dialogue about learning and development, and considering the specific needs of families by offering more sustained and intensive support where needed. As the majority of our children don’t have access to outdoor space at home, we prioritise outdoor learning. Our EYFS children have access to two outdoor areas; we were extremely lucky that the trust invested heavily in this provision last year and completely renovated our outdoor spaces and resources, inspired by our ideas. Promoting physical development was a key driver for the design of these areas, ensuring that children have opportunities to develop core strength and muscle isolation as a crucial first step towards writing. The monkey bars, pulley system, and bike track have been particular successes, and this has had a direct impact on our writing outcomes. NEXT STEPS I love knowing that children leave EYFS at Carlton Mills feeling safe, secure, confident, and ready for the next step of their school career. Thanks to the dedication and thoughtful preparation of every member of the early years team, they are well equipped to thrive within the Year 1 curriculum, and have had a wealth of opportunities and experiences that broaden their understanding and widen their window onto the world. Strong relationships between school and parents/carers have been established, which I see flourishing throughout each child’s time at Carlton Mills. Our journey began four years ago with a simple but powerful vision: to improve the lives of children in our community. In those early days, we faced numerous obstacles, from limited resources to gaining the trust of the community. But what kept us going was our shared commitment to making a difference in the lives of children who needed it most. Oh, and by the way – we still have spaces available in our wonderful EYFS for this coming September! Teachearlyyears.com 15 We celebrate our diverse community and ensure all children understand equality and respect OUR CARLTON 5 VALUES These values are at the heart of everything that happens at Carlton Mills, underpinning learning, culture, and expectations: Compassion: We use compassion to motivate pupils and adults to help relieve the physical, mental, or emotional pains of others and themselves. Courtesy: We use courtesy to encourage polite behaviour, ensuring that polite actions or remarks positively impact the mental health and well-being of others. Creativity: We encourage pupils and adults to use creativity to believe in themselves, raise aspirations, and eradicate glass ceilings. Collaboration: We use collaboration to promote working together with inclusivity and equality. Confidence: We encourage pupils and adults to have confidence and belief in themselves within a safe learning environment where it is okay to make mistakes, grow, and learn.