Early Years Foundation Stage

Successful Personal, Social and Emotional Development is critical for very young children in all aspects of their lives and gives them the best opportunity for success in all other areas of learning. We believe that it is crucial that we provide the experiences and support to enable children to develop a positive sense of themselves.

Communication and Language depend on learning and being competent in a number of key skills, together with having the confidence, opportunity, encouragement, support and disposition to use them. This area of learning includes communication, speaking and listening in different situations and for different purposes, and using past, present and future forms accurately.

Physical development in the Foundation Stage is about improving skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement (Fine and Gross motor skills). Physical development has two other very important aspects. It helps children gain confidence in what they can do and enables them to feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active.

Reading- children read sounds and blend to read words using the “RWI” phonics scheme. They use phonic knowledge to decode regular words and read them aloud. Children enjoy and recognise a wide range of texts, including, signs labels, instructions, stories and information books.

Writing– Children use their phonic knowledge to write words which match their spoken sounds. Children are encouraged to write for a variety of purposes.

Mathematical development depends on becoming confident and competent in learning and using key skills. This area of learning includes counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships and working with numbers, shapes, space and measures. Mathematical understanding should be developed through stories, songs, games and imaginative play, so that children can enjoy using and experimenting with numbers. This includes numbers with two digits.

In Understanding of the World children are developing the crucial knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. It includes helping children develop the skills of observing, predicting, exploring, investigating, interpreting, discussing, decision making and using tools and materials appropriately.

Expressive Arts and Design is fundamental to successful learning. Being creative enables children to make connections between one area of learning and another and so extend their understanding. This area of learning includes art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play.