Early Years Foundation Stage

For all the latest Early Years curriculum news, please click here.

Welcome to Early Years at Darwen St James! We are a small friendly highly qualified team led by Early Years Leaders with years of experience and specialism in educating children in their early years. Children learn more in their early years than at any other stage in their life. Therefore we realise how important it is for children of this age to be able to access high quality experiences, opportunities and environments in order for them to succeed and grow to become inquisitive lifelong learners. We provide a flexible offer of both 15 hours universal and 30 hours extended for children who are two, three and four years.

We know that coming to Nursery is often a child’s first experience away from their family; we therefore aim to provide a stimulating, challenging environment, which is a warm and friendly extension of home. Our highly experienced team are dedicated to providing a warm and welcoming environment where every child and adult is valued, listened to and supported. We are so lucky to have such a fantastic setting and we really want your child’s time here to be memorable and filled with enjoyment. We aim for all children to develop a real love of life and learning and to fill them full of confidence ready for all the demands the future brings.

EYFS Curriculum and Documentation

Tapestry Online Learning Journal

All Early Years children attending darwen St James will have a personal online Learning Journey which records photos, observations and comments in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage. This enables us to build up a record of each child’s learning and achievements during their time with us. We use the Tapestry system, which is hosted on secure, dedicated servers based in the UK.

What is Tapestry?

This system, called ‘Tapestry’ is an online learning journal used in schools around the country, it enables staff to take photographs, videos and make written observations of the learning your child does at school. You will then have access to this information (using your email address and a secure password to log in) so you can celebrate this learning at home too.

Tapestry is a brilliant platform of shared learning opportunities and therefore it is a useful tool for Parents/Carers. Not only can you see what your child is learning in school, you can also add your own posts to keep school informed of what your child gets up to out of school too! We love sharing learning experiences both inside and outside of school, all of which contribute to the progress your child makes as they move throughout the Early Years.

Who will Access Tapestry?

The safeguarding of our children is very important to us. Everything that is added to Tapestry will be added to our school account and can only be viewed by the school staff that use the system, and also yourself, using your own log in details. Tapestry admin staff will only access these accounts with prior permission from the school (for example, if required to solve a technical issue). A copy of Tapestry’s ‘Privacy, Security and Back-Up Policy’ is available to view on request.

You will only have access to your child’s journal, and this cannot be seen by other Parents/Carers. However, children in the class will sometimes be photographed with others as they learn together. For this reason, we ask for permission for your child to appear in photographs within other children’s Learning Journals once they start with us.

Click here to access your child’s online learning journal.