Early Years Foundation Stage

We embrace the revised Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) which came into effect from September 2012 and was updated March 2017. The EYFS sets the standards that all early years’ providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.

The basis of our approach to early learning and development are the four guiding principles:

 

A unique child – Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.

 

Positive relationships – Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships

 

Enabling environments – Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers

 

Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates - The EYFS framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

The EYFS is made up of 7 areas of learning and development. All areas are important and inter-connected.

 

Three areas are crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These 3 areas are referred to as the prime areas.

 

Prime areas

 

Communication & Language

 

Giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations

 

Physical development

 

Providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children are also helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

 

Helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others: to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings: to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities. 

 

Children are also supported in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied

Specific areas

 

Literacy Development

 

Encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems and other written materials) to ignite their interest. 

 

Mathematics

 

Providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measures. 

 

Understanding the World

 

Guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

 

Expressive Arts and Design

 

Enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

 

Implementing the EYFS 

 

We recognise that every child is unique, with his/her own developing view of the world, interests and abilities. We respect the many different forms of family life that children may experience as well as their social and cultural backgrounds.

 

Each area of learning and development is implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.

 

We work in partnership with you to benefit your child’s overall development.