We follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), is how the Government and early years professionals describe the time in your child’s life between birth and age 5. This is a very important stage as it helps your child get ready for school as well as preparing them for their future learning and successes. From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years’ experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure; and support their development, care and learning needs.
Our team draws up a plan for each term focused around a topic which aims to ensure that the EYFS goals are met in a way that the children will enjoy. We believe that the experience a child has at pre-school is very important in their journey through the education system and so it is our goal to make learning fun! We organise our sessions so that the children can choose from a range of activities. This helps them to build up their ability to select and work through a task to its completion. The children have opportunities are encouraged to take part in adult-led small and large group activities which introduce them to new experiences and helps them to gain new skills, as well as helping them to learn to work with others. There are seven areas of learning and development that shape educational programmes. 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 their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. Providers must also support children in specific areas, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied.
Communication and Language (Listening and attention; Understanding; Speaking)
Physical Development (Moving and handline; Health and self-care)
Personal, Social and Emotional Development (Making relationships; Self-confidence and self-awareness)
Literacy (Reading; Writing)
Mathematics (Numbers; Shapes, space and measure)
Understanding the World (People and communities; The World; Technology)
Expressive Arts and Design (Exploring using media and materials; Being imaginative)
The children do their learning through play, sometimes led by an adult, sometimes through independent play opportunities.
DfE has published a new guide for parents which guides parents through what to expect in their child’s development. It aligns with the new Development Matters to help practitioners engage with parents about their child’s development. Please click on the link below to view this useful document.
What to Expect in the EYFS 2021: A Guide for Parents
This guidance gives you an insight into how the children are assessed according to age-related development and how we support the children’s development with next steps.
Download a copy of 'EYFS Development Matters'