Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Teaching and Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage is based on an understanding of how children learn.
Children learn best through:-
- Play.
- First hand experiences, which are well structured and meaningful.
- Interacting with others in a cognitive and reflective way.
- Being physically active.
- Having access to learning in both the indoor and outdoor environments.
- Having their interests valued, developed and extended.
Early years learning concentrates on 7 areas, split between prime and specific areas of learning.
- The prime areas of learning are:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The specific areas of learning are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Play is essential for young children’s learning. At this stage children do not differentiate between work and play and well planned play is a key way in which children learn with enjoyment and challenge. Through play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which help them make sense of the world. They practise and build up ideas, and learn how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. They communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems. They express fears or anxious experiences in controlled and safe situations. They are able to take risks and make mistakes. Independent self-initiated learning is supported by well-resourced provision such as:-
- role play areas
- stimulating outdoor play environment
- Construction area
- Sand and water
- Creative area
- Reading and writing areas
The learning environment is well organised and designed to give the children space to move about between the different play activities safely and with ease. The teaching is designed to provide a stimulating learning environment inside and outside, with provision arranged into areas for different types of play. There is a high level of staff involvement in children’s chosen activities and play. There are also planned ‘focus activities‘ for specific groups of children.
We encourage the children to become autonomous and independent by ensuring that the resources and equipment are accessible to them.
Resources are stored so that children can access them and put them away. Displays promote, support and reflect children’s current interests and are changed frequently to maintain interest.
Parents and carers are vital partners in supporting the Foundation Stage Curriculum and the assessment process. We work alongside parents and use preschool assessments as well as using our own observations to complete a baseline judgement when the child joins the school. We use the Development Matters criteria and Early Learning Goals to assess the children in the Foundation Stage. The goals were developed to measure progress and they help us plot the individual progress of each child as they grow and develop.
As the child progresses throughout their reception year the teachers make judgements based on their observations of the child in all seven areas of learning.
Children’s achievements are collected in a Learning Journey Book. This is a collection of evidence including photographs, written observations, annotations of children’s comments and examples of their work. Children, parents and teaching staff all have access and add to the Learning Journeys. This provides evidence of children’s attainment against the Early Learning Goals.