Curriculum
We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which was last revised in September 2021.
The learning and development areas are divided into prime and specific areas.
The three prime areas, noted as 'particularly important for building a foundation for igniting
children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving (EYFS, 2021)
- Three areas are :
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
The specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
Within each of these areas are early learning goals. It is these goals that we use to attain children’s level of progress through the EYFS.
Characteristics of effective learning:-
- playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have ago’
- active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy achievements
- creative and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
Referring to these characteristics of learning shows how a child learns alongside what they are – Again this reinforces the importance of recognising each child as unique.
Early Years Foundation Stage 2021
Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)
What to expect in the early years foundation stage : a guide for parents
Assessment
Assessment is achieved through observation of the children during their play. This produces evidence to support what each child’s key person knows about them and has observed during their play. This is regularly updated by the child’s key person. The children’s files can be reviewed on request.
Each child has an online learning journal though ‘Tapestry’ to record the children’s learning and development. This software enables parents/carers to access their child’s file and make additions and comments to these files. You will receive an email when work is added to your child’s journal.