Rift House Early Years
Early Years Framework
At Rift House, we believe every child deserves the best possible start in life. That’s why our Early Years provision is carefully designed to meet statutory requirements under the EYFS framework (latest version in force from September 2025).
We are committed to providing:
- Safe, caring and nurturing environments, underpinned by robust safeguarding, health & safety and welfare policies.
- High-quality early years education, giving children the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to flourish and prepare for school.
- Equality and inclusion, making sure every child — regardless of background or need — has support and opportunity.
- Open partnership with families, working together to support each child’s development, build trust and ensure transparency.
Our Early Years Curriculum & Learning Approach
Our Early Years provision (from age 2 through Reception) follows the EYFS statutory framework. We cover all 7 Areas of Learning & Development, ensuring a broad and balanced foundation:
- Prime Areas:
- Communication & Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social & Emotional Development
- Specific Areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts & Design
Through careful planning and skilled teaching, we help children work toward the expected Early Learning Goals by the end of the year in which they turn five.
We believe in a child-centred, play-based curriculum shaped around each child’s individual needs and interests. Our practice is guided by the four core principles of EYFS: recognising each child’s uniqueness, building positive relationships, providing enabling environments, and adapting to different developmental rates.
Our programme includes:
- A long-term plan that outlines themes, texts and experiences (for 2-year nursery, Nursery and Reception).
- A mix of adult-led and child-initiated learning, opportunities for play, exploration and structured teaching — all aligned with EYFS guidelines.
- Ongoing tracking of children’s progress to ensure they develop well and no child is left behind.
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Reflect on current practice, and identify areas where improved interactions can have the greatest impact on disadvantaged children.
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Invest in evidence-informed professional development for the whole team, and focus on approaches which are most relevant to disadvantaged children.
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Work with other professionals to plan, monitor and sustain progress for all children.
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Robust assessment tools and offer personalised support for children.
Curriculum Summary
In the Early Years starting from our 2 year old provision through to reception, staff make use of the non-statutory guidance Birth to Five Matters whilst ensuring the statutory framework for the EYFS is met.
Reception children are assessed against the appropriate early learning goals for all 7 areas of learning to contribute to them reaching a good level of development. Reception children also make use of the White Rose reception scheme to support learning and so that the children are introduced and prepared for the knowledge, vocabulary and different models they will encounter in Y1 - this supports their transition into the NC2014 KS1 mathematics curriculum. Reception children also make use of Jigsaw for PSED and Sing Up for music to ensure they have the knowledge, skills and experiences to allow them to access the KS1 curriculum.
Nursery and Reception children make use of the progression of skills from Get Set for PE to ensure they have an introduction to the skills they will need to access the KS1 PE curriculum.
For more information please contact school and request to speak to Miss Baxter (Lower Phase Lead and Deputy Headteacher)
Long Term Overviews
2 Year Nursery, Nursery and Reception follow a long term framework with topics and possible texts and themes. These may be altered due to the needs and interests of the children.
Additional Information
2 YEAR NURSERY PROVISION
We offer free 2 year old places for children of parents who meet certain eligibility criteria. To check if your child would be eligible for a place and to apply for a place please use the following link.
https://eyes-par-portal.hartlepool.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/home
Parents can apply for a place the term their child turns 2. .Children who are eligible will be given a start date the term after they turn 2. For more information please contact Miss Caldwell on 01429 275239 at Rift House Primary School, Kim Rowntree on 01429 284881 or Bobbie Swales on 01429 523929 from the Children's Hub. Children often recieve a home visit before they start our provision. Please request a copy of the school policy for more information.
We have two nursery sessions per day where we focus on the personal, social and emotional development of each child. We also encourage their communication, language and physical development. The children are encouraged to explore the environment. They will be supported in their play and will be encouraged to play alongside other children. The children will join in with stories, songs and rhymes during each session.
Our 2 year-old provision is currently mornings from 8.30 - 11.30 a.m. and afternoons from 12.15 - 3.15 p.m.
We also have a limited number of 30 hour places.
SCHOOL NURSERY PROVISION
3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours Nursery provision.
Rift House Nursery also offers full time 30 hour provision for working parents. To find out if you are eligible, please use the link to take you to the Government website https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare#content. Select ‘Apply for 30 hours free childcare’ and click on ‘Start now.’ You will be asked to complete a simple online application. If you are entitled, a code will be emailed out to you. Once the code is handed into Nursery, your child is able to access full time provision the following term. The Nursery staff will explain how this will work for you and your child.
Application for 30 hours September to December – a place will be offered from January
Application for 30 hours January to April – a place will be offered from April
Application for 30 hours from May to August – a place will be offered from September
ADMITTANCE TO NURSERY
To place your child onto our Nursery list come into the school office or pop into the school office to complete the correct form. Children can be placed on the nursery list from birth. We will be in touch approximately six weeks before your child turns 3.
Once you have been notified that your child has a place in our Nursery, a visit date and a start date will be provided.
If your child already has a place in our 2 Year Nursery, transition between the settings will be planned in the weeks before your child transfers to school Nursery.
We will also discuss how your child will access their nursery provision.
NURSERY SESSION TIMES
‘Morning’ Nursery: 8.30am - 11.30am
‘Afternoon’ Nursery: 12.15pm - 3.15pm
Please note: Admission to a Nursery attached to a primary school does not guarantee a place for your child in the Reception class at that school.
ADMISSIONS
Rift House Primary School is responsible for admissions into Nursery. The local authority has sole responsibility for admissions into Reception and Year 1 to Year 6. For further guidance on whole school admissions please see the local authority guidance that can be located at:
Applying for a primary school place
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/651/apply_for_a_primary_school_place
Important dates
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/653/important_dates_-_school_places
School admission arrangements
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20074/schools/983/school_admission_arrangements/1
Applyng for an in year admission
https://www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20014/schools_and_learning/655/in_year_school_admissions
PHONICS and READING
We are currently using the Read, Write, Inc. phonics scheme across our Lower Phase including in Early Years. The children are really enjoying learning the phrases and actions associated with Read, Write, Inc. This helps the children to recognise letters, remember the sounds and form their letters correctly. If you would like to use these phrases and actions at home to help your child then click on the link below:
https://schools.ruthmiskin.com/media/uploads/handwriting_phrases.pdf
Reading Website recommendations - Oxford Owl
2 year Nursery children and school Nursery children receive a book to share at home every week.
Reception children will receive a decodable phonics book and a book to share.
Reading is an important part of your child's development. Please support this by reading and sharing stories at home.
OTHER INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
Safeguarding, Welfare and Staff Standards
Your child’s well-being and safety are our highest priority. As a registered EYFS provider, we comply with all statutory safeguarding and welfare requirements set out in the EYFS framework.
This includes:
- Rigorous staff recruitment and vetting procedures (including reference and background checks).
- Qualified staff: all adults working directly with children meet the minimum qualification requirements, and at least one qualified practitioner on site holds a valid Paediatric First Aid certificate.
- Compliance with statutory staff-to-child ratios, to ensure safe supervision and quality care.
- Policies for child protection, health & safety, hygiene, behaviour management, inclusion and equal opportunities. These are available in our Policy Section.
- Regular review and updating of policies to align with the current (2025) EYFS requirements.
We believe in transparent practice — parents may request to view our full policy documents at any time - all policies (including safeguarding; health and safety policies; and equality) can be found in our policy section, amongst others, and further general information can be found on our dedicated safeguarding page.
School uniform - see our parent section.
Ofsted - see our Ofsted section (school information).
