EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet.
The EYFS Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
Four guiding principles shape practice in early years settings. These are:
A Unique Child
Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Practitioners
- understand and observe each child’s development and learning, assess progress, plan for next steps
- support babies and children to develop a positive sense of their own identity and culture
- identify any need for additional support
- keep children safe
- value and respect all children and families equally
Postive Relationships
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Positive relationships are
- warm and loving, and foster a sense of belonging
- sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs, feelings and interests
- supportive of the child’s own efforts and independence
- consistent in setting clear boundaries
- stimulating
- built on key person relationships in early years settings
Enabling Environments
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers.
Enabling Environments
- value all people
- value learning
They offer
- stimulating resources, relevant to all the children’s cultures and communities
- rich learning opportunities through play and playful teaching
- support for children to take risks and explore
Learnign and Development
Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development.
They foster the characteristics of effective early learning
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
Effective Learning
The Unique Child reaches out to relate to people and things through the Characteristics of Effective Learning, which move through all areas of learning.
- playing and exploring
- active learning
- creating and thinking critically
Areas of Learning
There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.
Prime Areas
Prime areas are fundamental, work together, and move through to support development in all other areas.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
Specific Areas
Specific areas include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society.
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
F.A.Q.
How will you assess my child?
We assess how young children are learning and developing by observing them frequently.
What progress checks do you do at age two?
We produce a short written summary of their child’s development in the three prime areas of learning and development – personal, social and emotional development; physical development; and communication and language – when a child is aged between 24 – 36 months.
What records of achievement do you keep?
We keep a record of achievement for each child. Your child’s record of achievement helps us to celebrate together her/his achievements and to work together to provide what your child needs for her/his well-being and to make progress.
How do you ensure there are sufficient staff?
We maintain the ratio of adults to children in the setting that is set by the Safeguarding and Welfare Requirements. We also have volunteer parent helpers, where possible, to complement these ratios.
How can parents take part in the setting?
Our setting recognises parents as the first and most important educators of their children. There are many ways in which parents take part in making our setting a welcoming and stimulating place for children and parents, such as:
exchanging knowledge about their children’s needs, activities, interests and progress with our staff;
contributing to the progress check at age two;
joining in community activities, in which the setting takes part; and
building friendships with other parents in the setting.
Can I see your policies?
Our staff can explain our policies and procedures to you. Copies of which are available in the office.
How do you safeguard children?
Our setting has a duty under the law to help safeguard children against suspected or actual ‘significant harm’. Our employment practices ensure children against the likelihood of abuse in our setting and we have a procedure for managing complaints or allegations against a member of staff.
What Information do you hold about me and my child?
We have procedures in place for the recording and sharing of information [data] about you and your child that is compliant with the principles of the General Data Protection Regulations.
What is your Ofsted rating?
Our settings are rated Outstanding or Good. You can read the Ofsted inspections reports here.
Who can I speak to for more information?
The setting manager will be able to answer any further questions. Please feel free to call or email the relevant branch.
What Our Families are Saying
