Strong Foundations

At St Michael’s C.E. Primary School, we believe that children need strong foundations in order to flourish throughout their education. Our Securing Strong Foundations progression sets out the key knowledge, skills and learning behaviours children need to develop from Nursery to the end of Year 1.

This document focuses on the essential foundations that help children access the wider curriculum successfully. It supports progression across Early Years and into Key Stage 1, ensuring that learning builds carefully over time.

What We Prioritise

Our progression focuses on the areas that matter most for future success: communication and language, executive function, early reading, early writing and early mathematics.

These foundations include children’s ability to listen, speak clearly, use vocabulary, follow routines, manage feelings, sustain attention, read fluently, write with increasing independence and develop secure mathematical understanding.

How We Use This

Staff use the progression to plan teaching, assess children’s development, identify gaps and provide targeted support. It helps us make sure that children are taught important knowledge and skills, have time to revisit and practise them, and are ready for the next stage of learning.

The progression also supports smooth transition from Nursery to Reception and from Reception into Year 1, so that children continue to build confidence, independence and fluency in the foundations that matter most.

Handwriting Progression

Alongside our Securing Strong Foundations progression, we have developed a handwriting progression document which sets out how children develop the physical, fine motor and writing foundations needed for successful handwriting.

This begins in Nursery with gross motor development, mark making, hand strength, tool control and early pencil grip. In Reception, children build on these foundations through more precise pencil control, letter formation, handwriting patterns and early writing. In Year 1, children continue to develop accuracy, fluency, stamina and presentation.

Our approach ensures that handwriting is taught progressively and developmentally, with children supported through purposeful provision, adult modelling, focused teaching and targeted support where needed.