Early Years Foundation Stage

In the Early Years, we strive to nurture children who are enthusiastic about learning and curious about the world around them. We aim to develop a true love of learning by providing a safe, happy and supportive environment where children feel confident, valued and secure. Carefully resourced continuous provision and purposeful provocations enable children to lead and drive their own learning, building on the skills and knowledge they already have.

Staff in the Early Years support children by facilitating independent learning and ensuring progress across all 17 areas of the EYFS curriculum. High-quality interactions are at the heart of our practice, with staff who are passionate, skilled and knowledgeable about supporting the development of the whole child.

Our EYFS curriculum is designed to build on children’s knowledge, understanding and skills, whatever their starting point. Learning is delivered through a topic-led approach that inspires excitement, curiosity and engagement. Through a balance of planned adult-led activities and child-initiated play, staff model language, explore ideas, ask questions and set challenges that move learning forward. Children take part in daily phonics, maths and topic sessions, alongside weekly forest school and PE, ensuring a rich and varied curriculum.

Throughout their time in the Early Years, children develop the characteristics of effective learning, showing motivation, resilience and a willingness to take on challenges. From the very start of their educational journey, children are nurtured to become confident, independent and resilient learners, well prepared for the next stage of their education.

Areas of Learning

There are seven areas of learning and development that shape the educational programmes we provide. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

These three areas are called the prime areas and they are:

• communication and language;

• physical development; and

• personal, social and emotional development.

We also support children to develop their learning within four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The specific areas are:

• literacy;

• mathematics;

• understanding the world; and

• expressive arts and design.

When you visit our reception classes you will see children engaged in activities that help them to develop the three characteristics that support effective learning.

We know children learn at their best when they are:

• playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;

• active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements; and

• creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

For more information about the curriculum in the EYFS please read the following documents: