Strong Foundations and the St Matthew’s Way
At St Matthew’s, we believe every child deserves the very best start. Our commitment is to build strong foundations that enable children to grow in confidence, develop independence, and approach learning with curiosity and resilience.
This vision is rooted in The St Matthew’s Way, where engaging environments, purposeful routines, and carefully tailored teaching come together to support every learner.
What strong foundations look like at St Matthew’s:
Getting the Essentials Right
We place a strong emphasis on the core skills that underpin all future learning—communication, early reading and phonics, writing, mathematics, and physical and social development. Through clear modelling, structured teaching, and regular practice, children develop the confidence to use these skills independently.
Learning That Builds Step by Step
Our curriculum is thoughtfully designed so that new learning connects directly to what children already know. Teachers make deliberate links to prior knowledge, create meaningful learning experiences, and ensure that each lesson contributes to a bigger learning journey.
Confidence Through Practice
We believe children thrive when they feel secure in what they know. That’s why we prioritise fluency—giving pupils the time, support, and repetition needed to become confident readers, writers, and mathematicians before moving on.
Support for Every Learner
At St Matthew’s, teaching is responsive and inclusive. We adapt learning to meet individual needs, provide appropriate challenge, and ensure that every child—regardless of starting point—can succeed and feel successful.
This means that in our classrooms you will see:
- Engaging lessons that capture children’s interest and make learning memorable
- Clear routines that create calm, purposeful learning environments
- Teachers who know their pupils well and adapt learning accordingly
- Ongoing assessment used to shape teaching and address misconceptions quickly
- Children actively involved in their learning—thinking, discussing, and reflecting
At St Matthew’s, building strong foundations is about more than preparing children for the next stage—it is about nurturing confident, capable learners who are ready to embrace future challenges with enthusiasm.