The Early Years Foundation Stage

EARLY YEARS FRAMEWORK

The government has created a framework that all childcare settings must follow.  This framework is called ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage’ and covers all children from birth right through to the end of their reception year (first year at school).  Play underpins the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage and it is our job to provide a range of play situations both inside and out to maximise every child’s learning opportunity.

The EYFS seeks to provide:

  • Quality and consistency in all early years settings, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind
  • A secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interest of each individual child and are assessed and reviewed regularly.
  • Partnership working between practitioners and parents and/or carers
  • Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported.

The Framework also has seven areas of learning and development (which you will see broken down in your child’s learning journey).  All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.  Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building the capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.  These three areas, the Prime Areas, are:

  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development
  • Personal, social and emotional development

In addition there are four Specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.  The specific areas are:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive arts and design

If you would like to find out more about the Early Years Foundation Stage please visit http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/eyfs-statutory-framework/

We follow the government’s ‘letters and sounds’ program which focuses on being able to discriminate between environmental & instrumental sounds before moving on to discriminate between letter sounds.  We ensure that all of our activities are fun and interactive.

We provide lots of mark making opportunities both inside and out.  This might be on chalk boards, easels, on the ground, painting the fences with large brushes as well as at a table.  We encourage children to have a go at writing their own name on their pictures and when they begin to show an interest we will support them in letter formation.

We have number & shape rich environments and find that children learn best if they are represented in all areas of their play.

Why do Children need to play?

It enables them to………

  • Explore, develop and represent learning experiences that help them make sense of the world around them
  • Learn how to control impulses and  understand the need for rules and boundaries
  • Practise and build up ideas, concepts and skills
  • Be alone and be alongside others 
  • Take risks and make mistakes
  • Think creatively and imaginatively
  • Investigate and solve problems

Why Outdoor Learning?

It allows children to:

  • Be physically co-ordinated
  • Be physically and mentally healthy
  • Become resilient to life, develop confidence / self esteem
  • Have space and freedom to move all their muscles
  • Develop play and learning which is memorable.
  • Experience multi-sensory  learning
  • Use a range of different learning styles

We very much value the contribution you can make towards your child’s education by sharing your knowledge of him or her with us so we can provide learning opportunities which are planned around each child’s interests.

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