EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum is the statutory framework that sets out children’s learning and development in the Foundation Stage. It aims to give children a broad range of knowledge and skills providing a secure foundation for future learning throughout school and life.
During their time in our Reception Class, children will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of learning and development.
Prime Areas
Children should mostly develop the three prime areas first. These are:
Communication and language: listening, attention, understanding and speaking.
Physical development: moving, handling, health and self-care.
Personal, social and emotional development: self confidence, self-awareness, managing feelings, behaviour and making relationships
These prime areas are the most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.
Specific Areas
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas. These are:
Literacy: reading and writing.
Mathematics: numbers, shape, space and measures
Understanding the world: people, communities, technology and the world.
Expressive arts and design: exploring using media, materials and being imaginative.
All seven of these areas are used to plan the learning and activities which take place. The curriculum is designed to be flexible so that staff can adapt to the interests and needs of individual children. In the EYFS, children learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking. These are known as the 'Characteristics of Effective Learning'.
At the end of the EYFS, which is the summer term of the reception year in school, teachers complete an assessment known as the EYFS Profile. This is shared with parents.
We consider ourselves partners in your child’s learning. The activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and development, and have a really long lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress through school. For example, talking, listening, reading, singing nursery rhymes, cooking and baking or playing outside with them.
You can find out more about the Early Years Foundation Stage which includes the early learning goals at http://www.foundationyears.org.uk