Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Vision
Developing vital skills through exploration and creative learning opportunities that are child initiated and adult led.
Our Principles of EYFS Teaching
We know that great learning happens in EYFS when:
- Children learn through their own interests and curiosities.
- Children are provided with a safe and engaging environment that encourages independent learning.
- Children are motivated and excited by all areas of the EYFS curriculum.
- Children are confident to express their ideas and are proud of their achievements.
- Children have access to an appealing outdoor environment where they can extend their knowledge.
The Seven Areas
In the EYFS children develop their knowledge through the seven areas of learning. There are three prime areas including: personal social and emotional development (PSED), physical development (PD) and communication and language (CL). There are four specific areas including: literacy (LD), mathematics (MD), understanding the world (UTW) and expressive arts and design (EAD).
The 17 Strands
Prime Areas
PSED
This area of the curriculum covers 'making relationships', 'self-confidence and self-awareness', 'managing feelings and behaviour'. Here children are encouraged to develop relationships with their peers and understand how to maintain positive friendships. Children will develop confidence in their own abilities. They will understand the behavioural expectations of the setting and know that their actions have consequences.
CL
This area of the curriculum covers 'listening and attention', 'understanding' and 'speaking'. The children will be encouraged to listen to others and express their own views and opinions. Through their experiences they will develop a varied vocabulary and use language to enhance their play.
PD
This area of the curriculum covers 'moving and handling' and 'health and self care'. Children will develop their fine motor skills allowing them to use a variety of equipment and tools with control. They will learn new skills through P.E. sessions and improve their understanding of the importance of exercise and good health.
Specific Areas
Literacy
This area of the curriculum covers 'reading' and 'writing'. Through phonics sessions children will learn different strategies for reading. This will then help them to become confident readers and writers. Their understanding and enjoyment of reading stories will grow by being provided with an engaging reading area. Children will have access to mark making materials in all areas, encouraging them to write.
Maths
This area of the curriculum covers 'number' and 'shape, space and measure'. Children will learn to count and recognise numbers up to 20. They will begin to solve a variety of number problems. Children will use and name shapes in their environment and use mathematical language to describe different objects.
UTW
This area of the curriculum covers 'people and communities', 'technology' and 'the world'. Through a range of experiences children will show an interest in different occupations and ways of life, relating and comparing them to their own. They will observe and ask questions about their familiar world, developing an understanding of change. Children will also explore a range of technology and complete simple programs.
EAD
This area of the curriculum covers 'exploring and using media and materials' and 'being imaginative'. Children take part in music activities where they are encouraged to explore different instruments and build a repertoire of songs. They are encouraged to use a variety of materials to create and design with purpose. Through role-play children can use their imagination to act out a narrative and recreate events, some which are linked to real life experiences.
Assessment of EYFS
Children in the EYFS are assessed in various ways such as photos, audio clips, videos and teacher-led activities. Teachers and teaching assistants record observations of children that are linked to the EYFS development matters statements, they will have at least obne observation weekly. Evidence of each child's progress is recorded on Learning Book, this is their digital learning journey.
