Early Years Foundation Stage

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to age five. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.

The EYFS has four themes. These are:
• A Unique Child
• Positive Relationships
• Enabling Environments
• Learning and Development

Within the theme of Learning and Development there are six areas. All areas are connected to one another and equally important.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development:
The children will be learning to:
• Become self-confident.
• Take an interest in things.
• Know what their own needs are.
• Dress and undress independently.
• Become independent.
• Tell the difference between right and wrong.

Communication, Language and Literacy:
The children will be learning to:
• Talk confidently and clearly
• Enjoy listening to stories, songs and poems.
• Hear and say sounds, and link them to the alphabet.
• Read and write familiar words.
• Learn to use a pencil effectively.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy:
The children will be learning to:
• Develop an understanding of maths through stories, songs, games and imaginative play.
• Become comfortable with numbers and concepts such as ‘heavier than’ or ‘bigger’.
• Be aware of shapes and space.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World: The children will:
• Explore and find out about the world around them, asking questions about it.
• Build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for.
• Find out about past events in their lives and their families’ lives.
• Find out about different cultures and beliefs.

Creative Development:
The children will explore:
• Colours and shapes.
• Making things.
• Role play.
• Music.

Physical Development:
The children will be learning to:
• Move confidently.
• Control their body.
• Handle equipment.

Play underpins all development and learning for young children. It is through play that they develop intellectually, creatively, physically, socially and emotionally.

Monitoring Progress:
Each of the six areas of learning has its own set of Early Learning Goals which determine what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Foundation Stage.

The EYFS Profile is a summative assessment of each child’s progress towards the early learning goals. The profile is regularly undated throughout the year. It shows your child’s development.

During the first few weeks we will find out what the children already know and can do. We will use this information to develop a learning programme suitable for your child.
We value any contributions you would like to make in helping us get to know your child’s need. You will be invited to discuss your child’s progress within the first term at a parents evening.