The Early Years Foundation Stage: (EYFS)
The Revised EYFS came into force in September 2012 It is a single
framework for care, learning and development for children in all registered
early years settings and schools from birth to the end of the reception class
(the academic year in which the child turns five).
Children are born ready, able and eager to learn. They actively reach out to interact with other people, and in the world around them. Development is not an automatic process, however, it depends on each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments.
The four guiding principles of the Early years
foundation stage are:
1. A Unique Child – every child is a unique child who is constantly
learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.
2. Positive Relationships – children
learn to be strong and independent through a warm and loving positive secure relationships with
parents and/or other key persons
3. 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.
4. Learning and Development – Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early year’s provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development.
What to expect, when?
A guidance to your child's learning and development in the early years foundation stage can be found at www.4Children.org.uk
A Parent’s guide to the EYFS Framework is available in the setting for you to look at. Alternatively you can find this information at www.foundationyears.org.uk
Our Curriculum
We aim to offer every child the opportunity to participate in a wide range of interesting and stimulating activities, carefully planned to enhance their learning through play. Our curriculum is designed to support children’s progress towards the early learning goals at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Your child will be learning skills acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development. Children mostly develop the 3 Prime Areas first:
Prime Areas
The prime areas begin to develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences these are:
- Personal, social and emotional development
Adults will help the children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and respect one another. Also they will learn how to manage their feelings, to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to gain confidence in their own abilities.
- Communication and language
The children will be given opportunities to experience a rich language environment enabling them to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves to listen and speak in a range of situations.
- Physical
The children will have the opportunity to be active and interactive; be able to develop their co-ordination, control and movements. They will also learn and understand the importance of physical activities and how important healthy eating is when making choices in relation to food.
Specific Areas
The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas and provide important contexts for learning these are:
- Literacy
Children will be able to access a wide range of of reading material to ignite their interests and they will be encouraged to link sounds and letters in preparation for beginning to read and write.
- Mathematics
Opportunities will be provided for children to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to describe shape and measures.
- Understanding the world
The children will be given opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment which will help them to make sense of their physical world and their community.
- Expressive arts and design
Children will be able to explore and play with a wide
range of media and materials. They
will be given the opportunity and encouraged to share their thoughts, ideas and
feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance,
role-play, design and technology.
Our activities take into account seasonal celebrations, cultural events and spontaneous learning opportunities but, most importantly, the interests and experiences of the children themselves. Our plans are displayed in the main room and can be seen at any time. We ensure that all toys and activities are readily available so each child has the opportunity to participate in the full range irrespective of which days they attend.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors outdoors