Early Years Foundation Stage

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum is the statutory framework that sets out children’s learning and development in the Foundation Stage.  It gives children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. 

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of learning and development.

Children should mostly develop the three prime areas first:

Communication and language;

Physical development;

Personal, social and emotional development.

These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.   As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas:

Literacy;

Mathematics;

Understanding the world;

Expressive arts and design.

These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities which are tailored to suit your child’s individual needs.  The curriculum is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

At the end of the EYFS – in the summer term of the reception year in school – teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile. This assessment is carried out by the reception teacher and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over a period of time.

We consider ourselves partners in your child’s learning.  The activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and development, and have a really long lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress through school.  For example, talking, listening, reading, singing nursery rhymes, cooking and baking or playing outside with them.

You can find out more about the Early Years Foundation Stage which includes the Early Learning Goals at www.foundationyears.org.uk. The Foundation Year’s website also includes a range of resources and contacts.