Clanfield CE Foundational Skills
Foundational Knowledge & Skills at Clanfield CE School
At Clanfield CE School, our aim is to provide the best soil and nutrients so that our pupils can flourish.
Strong Foundations refers to guidance published by the Department for Education and Ofsted that highlights the importance of making sure every child in the early years and early primary stages (Reception and Key Stage 1) builds the essential knowledge and skills they need to thrive throughout their whole school life.
We always called it our non negotiables however in September 2025, we changed it to foundational skills.
At its heart, this means:
🔹 Securing the Basics Early
It’s about ensuring that children have a really strong grounding in the fundamentals — such as communication, early reading and phonics, writing, maths, and social and physical development — before they are asked to do more complex tasks. Children need repeated practice and teaching of core skills so that they remember and can confidently use them later on. GOV.UK
🔹 A Clear and Coherent Curriculum
Schools should be clear about what children need to learn and when, and make sure learning is sequenced properly so that each new step builds carefully on what came before. Clanfield Church of England Primary School operates a child-centred, immersive, and project-based curriculum, often referred to as "commission" projects. This approach is designed to be engaging, placing children at the heart of their learning and preparing them for a diverse, modern world. Children benefit most when learning is structured, well-planned, and matched to their developmental stage. GOV.UK.
🔹 Focus on Fluency and Mastery
Rather than rushing into more challenging work, children are supported to become fluent — that is, comfortable and confident — in key skills like reading, writing and number work before they move on. This supports confidence, later learning and enjoyment of school. GOV.UK
🔹 Helping All Children Succeed
The guidance highlights that strong foundations are especially important for children who start school with lower levels of knowledge or confidence, or who have had limited early learning opportunities. The aim is for every child to have the solid building blocks they need so they’re ready for the rest of their education. We do this be ensuring all children have the best provision to meet need and made reasonable adjustments accordingly.
This is not about “teaching to a test” — it’s about giving children a really solid start that helps them feel confident, curious and capable as they continue through school.
In Autumn Reception it looks like this:
Language and oracy-listen attentively joining in songs and rhymes
Phonics – beginning phase 2 and recognising some sounds
Writing- mark making, beginning to sound out and write words with some recognisable letters.
Fine motor- grip development, threading, playdough
Maths- Subitising and counting small sets, numerals to 5
Behaviour and routines- setting independence and choosing
In Summer Reception it looks like this:
Language and oracy- retelling stories using vocab in play
Phonics – secure Phase 3 and 4, blending and segmenting
Writing- write simple words and phrases
Fine motor- controlled letter formation
Maths- counting to 20 and beyond 20, comparing, securing knowledge of number facts.
Behaviour and routines- self regulation and following routines
By the end of Y2:
Language and oracy- listen to others, speak in full sentences, and use vocabulary to express ideas and respond to others.
Reading - confident reading and discussion of what they have read
Writing- longer pieces write coherent for different purposes using basic structure, clear handwriting, accurate transcription and phonically plausible spelling.
GPS- secure exception words
Fine motor- fluent formation with accurate relative letter size
Maths- place value to 100+, recall multiplication and division facts of 2, 5 and 10
Behaviour and routines- follow classroom routines independently, manage their behaviour appropriately whilst showing resilience and KS2 readiness
