1. What is the Foundation Stage?

2. What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (E.Y.F.S.) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year.
It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.

3. The E.Y.F.S. is based on 4 over arching themes.
1 Every child is unique.
2 Children learn to be strong and independent through developing Positive Relationships
3 Children learn and develop well in enabling environments
4 Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates

4. The Curriculum
Within the theme of Learning and Development there are seven areas. All areas are important and are connected to one another.
Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building the children’s capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
These prime areas are;
Communication and Language;
Physical Development;
Personal Social and Emotional Development

5. The Curriculum
We must also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.
The 4 specific areas are:
Literacy;
Mathematics;
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design.

6. Communication and Language
Children will be learning to
develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves.
speak and listen attentively in a range of situations.

7. Listening and Attention
Communication
and Language
Speaking
Listening and Attention
Understanding

8. Physical Development The children will be learning to:
move confidently;
control their body;
handle equipment.
understand the importance of physical activity,
make healthy choices in relation to food

9. Health and
Self Care
Physical
Development
Moving and Handling

10. Personal Social and Emotional Development.
Children will be learning to
become self-confident;
develop a positive sense of themselves, and others
become independent
dress and undress independently
Form positive relationships and develop respect for others
Manage their feelings and know what their own
needs are

11. Emotional Development
Self Confidence
Making
Relationships
Personal, Social,
Emotional Development
Managing
Feelings
Managing
Behaviour
Self Awareness

12. Literacy The children will be learning to:
enjoy listening to stories, songs and poems
hear and say sounds, and link them to the alphabet
learn to use a pencil effectively
read and write familiar words

13. Literacy
Reading
Writing

14. Mathematics The children will be learning to:
Develop an understanding of maths through stories, songs, games and imaginative play.
Children will be provided with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in …
counting,
understanding and using numbers,
calculating simple addition and subtraction problems;
describing shapes, spaces, and measures

15. Shape, Space and Measures
Mathematics
Number
Shape, Space and Measures

16. Understanding of the World
The children will explore:
find out about the world around them,
asking questions about it
build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for
find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives
find out about different cultures and beliefs.

17. Understanding the World
People and
Communities
The World
Technology

18. Expressive arts and Design Development
The children will explore:
A variety of media, materials colours and shapes
Designing and making things
Role play
Making music, dancing and movement

19. Expressive Arts and Design
Being Imaginative
Exploring and using media and materials

20. Planning
When planning we consider needs interests and stage of development of each child then plan challenging and enjoyable learning experiences in all areas of learning and development.
Our areas of learning are implemented through planned, purposeful play and a mix of adult led and child initiated activities.

21. Skills based learning
We identify the skill that children need and then let them practise and apply that skill in a way that is interesting and motivating to them.
For example; if we want to introduce the children to using pastels rather than asking them to draw the beautifully daffodils in the vase, instead we allow them to draw any thing they like from a superhero to a pirate ship! The skill they develop is the same but the outcome end product is different!

22. Topics
We do have termly topics which are loosely based around the seasonal changes and significant events in the year.
This topic is then enhanced following the lines of children’s interest and developmental needs.

23. Display
Alongside good resources we believe good display is also key in engaging pupils. Our displays are made by the children and feature all the things they need to know most.
Our wall remain neutral – blank canvas waiting to be filled- and when first pieces of work go up they shine line beacons and everyone who looks upon it is often very excited and wants their work to be up their too.
Our display also child height, have speech bubble caption s displaying what the children said , observations made by staff and references to EYFS.

24. Just playing???
Play is an essential for children development building their confidence as they learn to explore to think about problems and relate to one another.

25. Documenting learning…
Our learning Journals these document children learning they contain photographs captions speech bubble observations and assessments. Next steps for learning are also identified for each child.
In reception children have a guided group work book in addition to their learning journal.

26. How we assess and monitor progress
Assessment in Foundation Stage is ongoing often involves us observing children to identify level of achievement, interest learning styles .
These observation then shape the planned learning experiences for the children
We also gather assessments through;
Adult supported learning opportunities
Exploratory play and investigation
Child initiated opportunities
Parental involvement – Proud Cloud and contributions to learning journals.
Foundation Stage Profile – completed throughout the year indicate whether children are meeting, exceeding or not yet reaching levels (emerging).

27. A typical morning in Nursery…
Come in and find peg & name and choose a book to read
Welcome sessions and time to talk interest session
Continuous provision. Objective led planning, teacher focused tasks and intervention
Family groups (directed teaching time)
Continuous provision, Objective led planning, teacher focused tasks and intervention
Tidy up time
family groups direct teaching time
Coats/bags for home time /club time

28. “Adults who help children to play are adults who help children to learn”