The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) covers children from birth to the age of five. Most children are expected to achieve the "Early Learning Goals" by the end of it.
We plan a curriculum, which helps our children make good progress towards, and where appropriate, beyond these goals. One of the best ways children learn is through well-planned play.
For example, think of all that goes on around the water tray;
Floating, sinking, measuring, volume, temperature, language, turn taking. The list is endless. Your child may come home and say "I played in the water today." He did, he enjoyed himself and is looking forward to tomorrow when he will "play" again.
There will be a small number of children who have special needs of varying degree. It is essential that these children be identified as soon as possible so that additional support can be provided.
The Early Years Foundation Stage continues until the end of the Reception year in mainstream school.
There are basically six areas of learning:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication, Language and Literacy
Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Physical Development
Creative Development
We can break this down further:
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Positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning; in particular an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners.
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Social skills; in particular by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to co-operate and work harmoniously alongside, and with, each other and to listen to others.
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Attention skills and persistence; in particular the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks.
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Language and communication; with opportunities for all children to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and to each other, to practice and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use, and to listen carefully.
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Reading and writing; with opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books.
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Mathematics; with opportunities for all children to develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space by providing a broad range of contexts in which they can explore, enjoy, learn, practice and talk about them.
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Knowledge and understanding of the world; with opportunities for all children to solve problems, make decisions, experiment, predict, plan, and question in a varied range of contexts; and to explore and find out about their environment, and people and places that have significance in their lives.
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Physical development; with opportunities for all children to develop and practice their fine and gross motor skills, increase their understanding of how their bodies work and what they need to be healthy and safe.
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Creative development; with opportunities for all children to explore and share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of art, design and technology, music, movement, dance and imaginative and role-play activities.
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Personal, social and emotional well being; in particular by supporting the transition to and between settings, promoting an inclusive ethos and providing opportunities for each child to become a valued member of the group and community so that a strong self-image and self esteem are
promoted.