Where your child’s story begins

Early Years Foundation Stage

3 to 5 years old

The early years are among the most important in a child’s life. At Mayfair, we take that seriously. Our Early Years Foundation Stage is designed to give children aged 3 to 5 a warm, stimulating and deeply personal start to their education, one that builds confidence, curiosity and a genuine love of learning from the very first day.

Our approach

What makes our EYFS special?

We have created an environment where children feel safe, known and excited to learn. Our classrooms are bright and inviting, with direct access to the playground. Our teachers are committed and caring, and our approach is built around each child as an individual, not a group to be managed.

We believe that children learn best when they feel happy and secure. That is why everything in our EYFS, from the way we welcome families on the first day to the way we structure each session, is designed with the child’s wellbeing at the centre.

Daily routine

What does a typical day look like?

One of the first questions parents ask us is: what will my child actually do each day? Here is how a typical EYFS day unfolds at Mayfair:

We offer two schedule options: a standard day finishing at 15:00, and an extended day finishing at 16:00. The extended session from 15:10 to 15:55 is dedicated to pure, child-led learning through play, a natural and joyful way to round off the day.

We also understand that every family is different. For children who are just starting school or going through a period of transition, we are happy to discuss a personalised timetable , shorter days to begin with, gradually building up as your child settles in. This flexibility is part of how we support each child individually, and it has made a real difference for many families joining us.

Curriculum

How we learn in EYFS - The 7 areas

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum covers seven key areas of development. At Mayfair, we weave these into every part of the day, through play, stories, exploration, conversation and creativity.

The three Prime Areas (the foundation everything else builds on):

Communication and Language:
Listening, speaking, understanding and expressing ideas

Physical Development:
Listening, speaking, understanding and expressing ideas

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Listening, speaking, understanding and expressing ideas

The four Specific Areas (which grow from the prime areas):

Literacy:
Early reading, phonics, writing and a love of books.

Numeracy:
number sense, shape, pattern and problem-solving through play

Understanding the World :
Exploring science, nature, people, places and technology

Expressive Arts and Design:
Creativity through art, music, movement and imaginative play.

Learning in the early years is not sitting at desks. It is building, exploring, singing, painting, running, asking questions and discovering the world. Our teachers create the conditions for all of this to happen, purposefully and joyfully.

Starting school is a big moment for both children and parents

Supporting Your Child’s Transition

We know that starting school, even at a small, warm school like Mayfair, can feel like a big step. Separation anxiety is completely normal, and our team is experienced in supporting children and families through it.

Here is what we do to make the transition as smooth as possible

A gradual start. For children who need it, we can arrange shorter days in the first weeks, building up gradually as the settle
Open Communication. we keep parents informed from day one, with regular updates on how their child is getting on
Small class sizes. our low adult-to-child ratio means your child is never lost in the crowd
Consistent routines Predictable rhythms help young children feel safe and confident
Personal relationships. A personal relationship — our EYFS teachers take time to get to know each child individually before the term begins where possible

Would you like to arrange a visit?

If you believe Mayfair is right for your child and want to find out more in person, you can click the button to see all our slots available or arrange a video call.

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