Strong Foundations

At Bassingbourn, strong foundations are the first of our four curriculum principles. In Reception and Key Stage 1, children learn to talk confidently, read, write and use numbers, alongside the physical skills and learning habits that help them focus, persevere and get on well with others. These foundations make everything else possible, so we give them the time, teaching and practice they need.

Why foundations matter

What children learn in their first years of school shapes their success in every year that follows. In its report Strong foundations in the first years of school (2024), Ofsted found that children need to secure the basics of communicating, reading, writing and calculating, and that plenty of high-quality practice helps this learning become fluent. Once these skills are automatic, children's thinking is free for ideas, understanding and creativity.

Strong early foundations are also a national priority. The government's Best Start in Life strategy (2025) sets the ambition that, by 2028, three in four five-year-olds reach a good level of development.

The foundations we focus on

Talk and language: listening, speaking and a growing vocabulary, built through stories, conversation and play
Early reading: a daily Read Write Inc. Phonics lesson, with books matched to the sounds children know, so they read with growing fluency and enjoyment
Early writing: letter formation, handwriting and spelling, practised until they become automatic, with children saying their sentences aloud before writing them
Early maths: a deep understanding of number, quick recall of number facts and the confidence to explain their thinking
Physical development: strong bodies and careful hands, from running, climbing and balancing to pencil grip and using scissors
Learning habits: following routines, managing feelings, concentrating, persevering and working well with others

How we build them

Daily teaching of the essentials: phonics, maths and stories every day, with a short maths meeting to keep number facts fresh
Play and teaching, chosen with care: in Reception, we balance purposeful play with direct teaching, and choose the approach that best fits what children are learning
Practice that sticks: short, frequent practice and review, so knowledge becomes secure and fluent
Small, well-ordered steps: each step builds on the last, and teachers check that learning is secure before moving on

This approach reflects the Department for Education's reading framework and writing framework, and the Education Endowment Foundation's guidance on early maths.

Checking and supporting every child

Our Strong Foundations Tracker sets out, step by step, the foundations children secure from Reception through Key Stage 1. Teachers use it, alongside half-termly phonics assessments and WellComm language checks, to see what each child has secured and what they are still securing. When a child needs a little more help, we act quickly with extra practice and small-group support, so every child keeps pace with their class. When children move class, teachers share this information, so learning continues smoothly.

For older pupils who are still securing these foundations, support continues, including Read Write Inc. Phonics in Years 3 and 4, Fresh Start in Years 5 and 6 and WellComm language support.

How you can help at home

Share a book every day, and talk about the story and pictures together
Chat often, introducing new words as part of everyday life
Count, spot numbers and play board and card games together
Draw, cut, thread and build, to strengthen careful hands
Keep calm, regular routines, including a good night's sleep
Praise your child for having a go, especially when things feel tricky

You can find out more on our Early Years, Phonics and Maths pages.