The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is an educational stage that caters to students aged between 0 and 5 years old in the British education system. Shackleton welcomes children to our EYFS (Nursery and Reception) classes from the academic year when they turn three years old. We follow the learning objectives of the new British curriculum (EYFS Development Matters Learning Objectives), which specify what a child should be able to do at ages 2, 3, 4, and 5. Our fundamental objective is to support the child in their learning, nurture their curiosity, and enhance their independence.

During the first stage at Shackleton, we focus on developing a child’s ability to express themselves in English, just like a native English speaker would in their natural environment. Our philosophy is based on respect for the child, personal and emotional skill development, and family values. Our curriculum is customised and applied based on individual goals, rather than teaching the same thing to an entire class and expecting everyone to reach the same goal simultaneously.