Welcome to the Early Years Foundation Stage

Our Team Hedgehog LadybirdOwl Miss Sharp Miss MillerMiss Parish Mrs Van Den Brul Mrs Peverall Mrs Hill Mrs Avellino Additional TA- Mrs Hiscocks

A typical week in EYFS There is no such thing as a typical week! We often adapt planned activities to best meet the needs of the children A lot will happen over the week and no day is ever the same!!

Characteristics of effective learning These are the ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – Playing and exploring Active learning Creating and thinking critically They underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

The EYFS Curriculum The EYFS curriculum is organised by two areas: prime and specific. The Prime areas are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development Physical Development Communication and Language They begin to develop quickly in response to relationships and experiences, and run through and support learning in all other areas. The prime areas continue to be fundamental throughout the EYFS.

The EYFS Curriculum The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas, and provide important contexts for learning. They are: Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design

Learning through Play “ Children’s play reflects their wide ranging and varied interests and preoccupations. In their play children learn at their highest level. Play with peers is important for children’s development.” Early Years Foundation Stage 2007

Planning We plan together as a team and review weekly plans. This ensures equal opportunities for learning in all classes and coverage of all the areas of learning. We plan for both inside and outdoor learning. Opportunities are given throughout the week for the children to access all areas of learning in a variety of contexts. Planning covers Prime and Specific areas Prime areas Personal, Social and Emotional Development Physical Development Communication and Language Specific areas Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World Expressive Arts and Design

Planning 50% of planning is teacher directed time and 50% is planned for child initiated learning. This ensures that the children are gaining the most from their time in school and that play is purposeful. Whilst working alongside the children, early years practitioners will extend their learning whether it is adult initiated or child led. The children also complete adult-led activities throughout the week which teach specific skills. These include teacher input to whole class/small groups and specific teaching with a focus: FAP Observations are completed by all EYFS practitioners and help to inform future planning and your child’s next steps on their learning journey.

Prime area- PSED PSED- Personal, Social and Emotional Development. It is broken down into 3 areas. Making relationships Self-confidence and self-awareness Managing feelings and behaviour PSED forms a central part of everything we do This area of learning is about emotional well-being, knowing who you are and where you fit in and feeling good about yourself It is also about developing respect for others, social competence and a positive disposition to learn

Prime area- Physical Development Physical Development It is broken down into 2 areas Moving and Handling Health and Self care. Physical development in the Foundation Stage is about improving skills of co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement Physical development also helps children gain confidence and feel the positive benefits of being healthy and active Physical development covers both fine and gross motor skills

Prime area- Communication and Language Communication and Language It is broken down into 3 areas Listening and attention Understanding Speaking This involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment. To develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves And to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Specific Area-Literacy Literacy It is broken down into 2 areas Reading Writing

Phonics Phonics is taught in a highly structured, well- paced and systematic way As a school we follow Letters and Sounds which links to book band levels. We introduce phonics through Jolly Phonics which links the phonemes with the graphemes. We also supplement this with other schemes such as Phonics Play and Big Cat Phonics.

Reading Meet the Family!

Reading We aim to foster a love of books and reading in all children This is done through the formal teaching of reading and the informal sharing of a range of books Books are available for free-choice reading in all classes and in the outside area

Reading What will come home Everyday children will be able to pick a story book for you to share with your child at home. This book will come home with a reading record book that has ideas for sharing books with your child. On the website we have a video clip of ‘How to read with your child’. As your child’s reading develops they will move through the book bands and we will sent home and letters and sounds phase book mark so you can see which key words your child needs to learn for the phase.

Reading When your child brings home a reading book it will be accompanied by a home/school book This book is where we will write comments about your child’s reading. It is also a place for you to write a comment when you read with your child at home. We will aim to read on an individual basis with your child at least once a week and where possible more.

Writing In school we teach the children to print There is a powerpoint on the bottom of your child’s class website which shows correct letter formation. We do lots of activities to encourage fine motor skills, correct pencil grip and letter formation.

Writing We begin to develop early writing skills by encouraging the children to complete emergent writing tasks As the children develop their knowledge of sounds we encourage them to apply this to their written work From the start we encourage children to write as independently as possible

Specific Area-Mathematics Mathematics It is broken down into 2 areas Numbers Shape, Space and Measures Maths is all around us! Most of the maths we do is practical We place a strong emphasis on developing mental maths skills Very little of our maths work is recorded formally

Specific Area-Mathematics Most of our maths focuses on numbers to 20 so that the children become confident with the following skills: - counting forwards & backwards - identifying missing numbers - writing numbers correctly - ordering numbers - using a number line to count up and back

Specific Area-Mathematics Later in the year we move on to cover simple addition and subtraction, doubles to 20, and counting in 2s and 10s We also cover more practical maths skills such as weight, shape, measuring, capacity, and time

Specific Area- Understanding the World Understanding the World involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Specific Area- Expressive Arts and Design Expressive Arts and Design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.

Things to remember! Please send your child in to school with their book-bag everyday Please check your child’s book-bag daily to ensure that no letters have been missed – however we prefer to send most letters electronically which ensures you get them and is eco-friendly. Please send your child into school with a named bottle of water – we do not allow juice or flavoured water on the grounds of potential mix ups and allergies

Things to remember! Please ensure that EVERYTHING including coats are named and that your child knows where the name and can recognise it! Please help your child learn to dress and undress independently Please help your child practise putting their coat on and doing it up

Finally… We are a very approachable team. If you have any concerns, however small they may seem to you, please come and see one of us. We can usually solve simple problems or queries for you straight away. If not, we can make arrangements to meet with you at a different time.

Any questions?