Early Years Foundation Stage Handbook 2025-26
Welcome to the Brighton College (Singapore) Early
Years Foundation Stage
This welcome booklet has been written to introduce you to our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at Brighton College (Singapore). We hope it will answer many of your questions regarding your child’s time in Pre-Nursery Pufflings, Nursery Puffins and Reception.
At Brighton College (Singapore), we offer a vibrant and enriching environment where children can thrive. Parents can expect a play-based curriculum that prioritises your child’s interests, promoting a love for learning through engaging activities. Daily routines include interactive storytelling, hands-on life skills such as cookery and woodwork and outdoor play that encourages exploration and creativity. Overall, children at Brighton College (Singapore) can look forward to a holistic education that balances academic, social, and emotional development, preparing them for a successful future while enjoying a memorable early learning experience.
Alongside our whole school aims, during your child’s time in the EYFS, we also want to achieve the following:
• To provide a safe, secure and caring environment
• To embed a culture of kindness where children learn the joy of helping others, begin understanding the importance of their own wellbeing and that of others and make a positive difference in their communities
• To encourage independence and resilience and build self-confidence in a variety of social and learning situations
• To promote the cultivation of skills vital for lifelong learning, critical thinking, and self-reflection by sparking and stimulating their curiosity, encouraging them to ask questions, explore, find ways to solve problems and enjoy achieving their goals.
Curriculum
At our school, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which establishes standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to age 5. Children can join our setting when they are 18 months old and the EYFS stage finishes at the end of the Reception year when children are 5 years old. Our play-based curriculum spans from Pre-Nursery Pufflings to Reception, with a strong focus on seven key areas of learning:
Prime Areas:
• Communication and language
• Personal, social, and emotional development
• Physical development Specific Area:
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design
Learning is based on a continuum of development from birth to the end of the Foundation Stage. It helps us as practitioners to plan the care and learning that is right for each child at each stage of their development. Underpinning the learning and development across all areas we look at the characteristics of effective learning: playing and exploring (engagement), active learning (motivation), creating and thinking critically (thinking).
During the day, the children take part in both structured and independent activities covering all aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum. The children will sometimes work and play individually, in small groups or as a whole class.
How we teach - In the moment planning:
Our experienced teachers build upon the children’s interests, ensuring that their developmental milestones are targeted through thoughtful observations, assessments, and teachable moments. When children engage in activities that align with their passions, they are more motivated and eager to learn. With our small class sizes, we’re able to provide individual attention, allowing each child to progress quickly and grow in confidence.
Lessons and activities are crafted to be engaging, developmentally appropriate, and exciting by following the children’s interests.
We aim to foster curiosity and sensory exploration through play-based learning. Each activity is thoughtfully planned to align with the seven areas of learning. For example, if children show interest in water play, we enhance it with new elements like measuring cups, floating objects, or colour mixing, sparking curiosity and encouraging problem-solving skills.
The activities remain developmentally challenging yet achievable, promoting their cognitive, social, and physical growth.
Children are given the freedom to explore, experiment, and discover, which keeps them engaged and motivated. By crafting lessons around what excites the children, we ensure that every child is not only learning but also developing a love for discovery in an environment that promotes sensory-rich, playful exploration.
In the Pod
Each classroom is part of a thoughtfully designed cluster of four, housed within a secure learning hub known as a pod. Access to these pods is protected, requiring encoded cards for entry, ensuring a safe and exclusive environment for young learners.
Within each cluster, children have access to a dedicated teaching kitchen with childfriendly workspaces, a cosy mini-library, a well-equipped resource centre, and open areas designed for collaboration, play, and seamless movement.
Despite the scale of the complex, children never feel lost in the space. The consistent pod layout and small groupings create a sense of familiarity, helping young learners transition smoothly between year groups while maintaining a warm, inviting atmosphere. Each pod fosters a close-knit community where exploration, creativity, and connection thrive.
The Early Learning Village (ELV)
Our early years classrooms are housed in the ELV (Early Learning Building). The state-ofthe-art facilities further enhance the learning experience. Classrooms are bright, spacious, and equipped with access to shared balcony spaces that invite independent exploration. In Pre-Nursery Pufflings and Nursery Puffins, these balconies come equipped with their own large sandpits and extensive resources to promote water and sand play.
Pre- Nursery Pufflings (18 months to 3 years old)
Pufflings compromise of 2 classes, Little Pufflings and Pufflings, children are split between the 2 classes according to age. The children share a balcony space and there are plenty of opportunities for both classes to play together. The ratio of adults to children is 1:4, ensuring all the needs of the children are met. An emphasis on the Prime areas of learning; Communication and language, Personal, Social, and Emotional development and Physical development are focused on through play-based learning.
Diapers/ Intimate Care/ My Day
We prioritise the well-being of all children, including those who require assistance with intimate care needs. Our dedicated staff are fully trained to provide respectful and discreet support with personal hygiene tasks, such as toileting. We ensure the highest standards of child safeguarding and confidentiality, creating a safe and supportive environment for every child throughout the school day.
If your child wears diapers, we kindly ask that you provide these, while wipes are supplied by the school. Each child has a “My Day” sheet, which will be shared with parents via Seesaw. This sheet provides updates on when your child’s diaper was changed or when they used the toilet, as well as information on how much food they have eaten during lunchtime.
Nap
In Pre-Nursery Pufflings, the children have the option to take a nap in a dedicated nap room. We kindly ask that you provide the bedding for your child’s nap, which will be sent home every Friday to be washed and returned on Monday. Naptime is from 12.30pm to 2.30 pm. Children are welcome to bring a comforter or pacifier if this is part of their usual nap time routine. Pacifiers can only be used during nap time.
If your child does not wish to nap, they will be provided with engaging and stimulating learning activities in the classroom.
Nursery Puffins (3-4 year olds)
In Nursery Puffins, the children continue to learn through play-based learning, with a focus on the prime areas and incorporating the specific areas of learning. This approach allows the children to build upon and master skills that were introduced in PreNursery Pufflings, further developing key abilities such as communication, physical coordination, and social interaction, while also exploring literacy, mathematics, and creative expression.
Toileting
Children joining our Nursery Puffins class are expected to be toilet trained. To support your child to become independent when using the toilet, please let them organise themselves when visiting the toilet (taking down their pants, using toilet paper, pulling up their pants). If a child requires support, staff are always on hand to help.
We ask the children to wash their hands with soap and dry their hands after visiting the toilet. Occasional accidents will be dealt with kindly and diplomatically. However, frequent soiling is a cause for concern which would be discussed with parents. Parents may be contacted in case of a very bad soiling accident where a child may need to go home for a shower/bath and a complete change of clothes.
Reception (4-5 year olds)
In Reception, the children learn through a varied balance of structured and play-based learning. They engage in a stimulating mix of play-based activities and more structured tasks that cover all seven areas of learning, including Phonics. More specialist lessons, taught by specialist teachers, are introduced such as art and swimming.
Specialist lessons
In the EYFS, children greatly benefit from a variety of specialist sessions taught throughout the week. These sessions include areas such as music, physical education, dance, and language development, allowing children to explore different skills and interests.
The expertise of the specialist teachers enhances the children’s learning experiences, providing opportunities for creativity, physical development, and critical thinking, all of which support their overall growth and well-being. Please see below the specialists the children have in the EYFS and the duration of each session.
Mandarin - 60 Minutes
Library - 40 Minutes
Music - 80 Minutes
Mandarin - 80 Minutes
Library - 40 Minutes
Assessment for Learning
Swimming - 30 Minutes
Dance - 40 Minutes
Drama - 40 Minutes
Art - 80 Minutes
Mandarin - 80 Minutes
Library - 40 Minutes
Throughout the EYFS, we are continually assessing the children through their playbased learning by making observations. Our ethos of ‘in the moment’ is invaluable in understanding where each child is in their learning journey. This approach allows us to cater to each child’s unique needs and interests, ensuring they receive the support and opportunities to grow and thrive. We provide targeted support in real time, identifying children’s strengths and areas for growth, and offer personalised, flexible, and responsive feedback as needed.
At the end of the Reception year, the EYFS staff will complete the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile for each child. Observations gathered throughout the year will be used to assess each child’s development against the Early Learning Goals for all seven areas of learning.
Seesaw
Seesaw is a learning platform that allows teachers to record children’s observations, including photos and detailed comments linked to the prime and specific areas of learning. Each child has an electronic journal that is shared with parents. You will receive focused observations of your child’s learning. This platform is a fantastic way to build an accurate picture of your child’s development. Your child’s journal can be accessed online, and we highly encourage you to view these ‘wow’ moments. You will be provided with login details to access this platform. Seesaw is used throughout the whole school.
Phonics
In Nursery Puffins, phonics is taught through playful activities that focus on developing phonemic awareness, where children learn to identify and manipulate individual sounds in words, by using songs, rhymes, listening games, and visual aids to introduce basic letter sounds. In Reception, the children receive four Phonics lessons per week, following the Read Write Inc Phonics program. The phonics lessons focus on teaching children the basic letter sounds (called “speed sounds”) in a structured way, allowing them to blend these sounds together to read simple words, and then use that knowledge to write words by segmenting sounds. All activities in the phonics lessons are designed to seamlessly connect reading and writing skills.
Woodwork
Woodwork is integrated into the daily routine of Nursery Puffins and Reception. This life skill encourages creative thinking and problem-solving while supporting a range of developmental areas, including math, scientific inquiry, physical coordination, language, and vocabulary. We believe woodwork nurtures imagination - an invaluable trait in our educational setting.
Cooking
There are 3 specially designed kitchens in each of the EYFS pods. We offer weekly cooking lessons and is integrated into the Early Years curriculum, providing rich opportunities for growth in all seven learning areas while fostering a love for practical, hands-on learning.
Field Trips
Field trips are an integral part of the program, providing exciting opportunities for real-world learning. Visits to local parks, museums, and cultural events allow children to connect their classroom experiences to the world around them.
Outdoor Play
The school day includes opportunities for playtimes and outdoor activities. The school has a variety of exciting, covered playgrounds that allow for outdoor play in most weather conditions. These playgrounds are designed with a variety of engaging equipment, such as climbing structures, slides, and balance beams and even a Pirate Ship! Thus, helping to support children’s physical development and encouraging social interaction.
In addition to the playgrounds, the shared balcony spaces are filled with exciting, ageappropriate provisions that promote sensory exploration, imaginative play, and creativity. The combination of outdoor play and shared balcony areas allows children to move freely, engage with their peers, and develop crucial motor skills while having fun. Outdoor play is an integral part of the daily schedule, promoting both physical activity and social development in a safe and stimulating environment.
Daily Routines
• Drop-off: Available from 8.25 am
• Registration and form time: 8.50 am
• Lessons begin at 9.10 am and conclude at 3.30 pm
• Half-day pick-up: Available at 12.15 pm for Pufflings and Puffins
• Home time pick up: Pupils who are not participating in Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) can be picked up from the pod doors at 3.30pm before the activities begin
• Bus home: 3.30pm
• CCAs are only available for Reception aged children from 3.30 – 4.20pm. CCAs run each day Monday to Friday and are not compulsory. Collection from Level 3 at 4.20pm
• CCA Bus departs at 4.30pm
• Pufflings and Puffins Lunch: Served between 11.45am and 12.30pm
• Nap time: 12.30pm – 2.30pm.
Pre-Nursery Pufflings can nap after lunch
• Reception playtime: 12.10pm – 12.30pm
• Reception lunch: Served from 12.30pm to 12.50pm
On arrival, parents are requested to bring their child to the pod doors where they will be greeted by a member of staff who will escort them into their classrooms. If arriving by bus, the children will be collected from the bus bay by a teaching assistant who will take them up to their classrooms.
At the end of the day, we would be grateful if you could arrive promptly to collect your child from their pod doors. When collecting from after school clubs, please wait for your child on Level 3 from their designated collection point.
Changes to going home
If there are any changes to going home arrangements these should be communicated with the class teacher before 10am by email or Seesaw.
CCA /Sibling Club
Reception children have the option to participate in Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) until 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. Each day, there are a variety of options to choose from, including both external providers (which incur an extra charge) and CCAs provided by the Brighton College (Singapore) staff, such as Forest School, Football, and Karaoke.
We run a Sibling club for children for PreNursery and Nursery pupils. There are limited spaces in this club.
Snacks and Drinks
We ask that you provide your child with both a morning and afternoon snack in separate containers, along with a refillable water bottle containing only water. There are water machines available for your child to refill their bottle throughout the day.
In Pre-Nursery Pufflings and Nursery Puffins, children have the freedom to choose when they would like to have their snack. For Reception and above, snacks will be eaten during their morning break and before the end of the day.
Please adhere strictly to our guidelines regarding food and drink brought to school. We encourage healthy snacks, such as fruit, crackers, cheese, and yoghurt. We are a nutfree school, and fizzy drinks and sweets are not allowed.
Useful Information
The House System
When your child joins the school, they are allocated a House. There are 4 Houses; Chichester (Yellow) Ryle (Green) Fenwick (Blue) Hampden (Red). In Reception, pupils attend bi-weekly House meetings with the older year groups in Junior Prep. Children are encouraged to wear their House Kit to these meetings. There is exciting termly House events, which the children participate in.
Behaviour
Within EYFS, we recognise the importance of children behaving appropriately. Our goal is to:
• Help children develop into loving and respectful individuals.
• Encourage children to understand that they are responsible for their behaviour.
• Support children in learning to regulate their behaviour.
• Foster positive attachments with adults and help children build friendships with their peers.
We consistently celebrate and praise positive behaviour. Staff also have the opportunity to speak with parents during pick-up times to discuss the events of the day, fostering a strong partnership between home and school.
What to bring everyday
All children need to bring the following with them to school every day:
• School bag
• School book bag
• Learning Diary
• Water bottle
• Healthy snacks (No nuts)
• School sun hat School Uniform
We are very proud of our school uniform which shares a lot of similarities with Brighton College UK. When travelling to and from the school we ask that children are smart and in full uniform, since they are representing the school in public. Children are expected to wear their uniform for all normal school days except for a ‘dressing up’ day or when notified that PE Kit can be worn to school.
Lunch
In Pre-Nursery Pufflings to Reception, all children are provided with a hot lunch, served ‘family-style’. This is part of their fee structure, and it is expected that all children take this meal. A wide range of dietary requirements are catered for. If you would like more information on any food area please email: Sodexo.elv@elv.edu.sg
Illness/accidents at school
We have a full-time nurse, and all our staff are trained to assist your child if they become unwell. If your child feels unwell, we will notify you so that arrangements can be made for them to be collected. Minor accidents will be managed by the nurse, documented, and you will be informed either by email or phone. In the case of a more serious accident, we will contact you immediately.
Illness at home
Please do not send your child to school if they are unwell or have a temperature of 37.8. Kindly email your child’s class teacher and the school nurse at nurse@brightoncollege.edu.sg to inform them that your child is ill and will not be attending school. If you have a medical certificate, you can share it with both the nurse and the classroom teacher.
To prevent the spread of illness, the following policy is in place regarding pupils returning to school after experiencing diarrhea or vomiting:
Pupils in Reception and below must remain away from school for a minimum of 48 hours after the last episode of diarrhea and/or vomiting. This ensures adequate recovery time and reduces the risk of transmitting illness to others.
Communication
As parents, you play a vital role in your child’s education, and your support and cooperation are important to us. This partnership enables us to provide the best support for your child and gain a better understanding of their needs. If there has been a change in your circumstances, such as moving house, a parent being away on a business trip, or a bereavement, please do let us know.
We have an open-door policy, and you are always welcome to speak with your child’s classroom teacher during pick-up and dropoff times. However, if you have detailed questions or matters of a confidential nature, please email your child’s class teacher to arrange an appointment. Similarly, if we feel your child is experiencing difficulties at school, we will reach out to you to discuss the best course of action moving forward.
To enhance communication, you will receive a weekly newsletter via Seesaw from your class teacher sharing the key events from the week and any upcoming events and general reminders.
At Brighton College (Singapore) we believe that maintaining a continuous dialogue between parents and the school is crucial to ensure that your children get the most from their time with us. The Parent Portal offers a wealth of information relating to school life and we hope you find it both useful and enjoyable. You will receive login details to sign up to the parent portal from admissions.
Class Representative
Each class has a parent representative who acts as a communication bridge between the school and the parents of pupils in a particular class, gathering feedback from parents, relaying important information from the school, and generally advocating for the needs of the children within their group. There is a termly Class Rep meeting hosted by the Senior Leadership team where parents’ options and ideas are discussed.
Visitors pass
The wearing of visitor passes is compulsory for visitors to the school (other than parents). Visitors must sign in at the guard house with a recognised proof of identification (e.g. drivers license, passport etc) and obtain a visitor pass before entering the school. This must be returned before departing the premises.
Parent pass
Brighton College Singapore families are issued with security passes which must be worn by parents, helpers and guardians, when visiting the campus. People who forget their pass will be treated as a visitor and will need to sign in at one of the guard houses. A parent pass and car decals are provided for families who drive onto the campus. Parents are asked to support these security measures, which assist the guards in knowing who is located on the grounds at any one time.
Birthdays
Children who wish to celebrate their birthday at school are welcome to bring individually wrapped cupcakes to share with their friends. Cupcakes can be shared at the end of the school day and will be sent home with the children. Please note that our school is a nut free school, meaning that no nuts, nut-based products, or items containing traces of nuts are permitted on school grounds or buses.
Toys
We kindly ask that children do not bring toys from home to school in order to minimise distractions during class time and prevent potential conflicts or disruptions among pupils.
Brighton College (Singapore)
1 Chuan Lane
Singapore 554299
+65 6505 9790
brightoncollege.edu.sg
For more information or to book a personal tour please scan QR code or contact us at admissions@brightoncollege.edu.sg
©Brighton College (Singapore) Pte Ltd | PEI Registration Number: 201904884D
Period of Registration: 14 October 2023 to 13 October 2027.