Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage is the curriculum covering children’s development from birth until the end of the Reception year. We support children to make their own learning, where teachers join in with children’s play and observe their interests to extend learning. Children also take part in adult led activities to help develop specific skills, to provide new learning experiences and to inspire new interests. The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning and development. These are all related to one another but divided into Prime and Specific Areas.
Prime Areas:
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This area involves helping children to build their self-confidence and to develop a strong sense of themselves. Children are supported to develop their social skills, to form positive relationships and respect for others. Children’s emotional well-being is nurtured by helping them to understand and manage their own feelings and behaviour.
Communication and Language
This area develops children’s confidence and skills in listening, understanding, speaking and communicating.
Physical Development
This area involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; developing their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Specific Areas:
Literacy
This area focuses on learning the skills needed for reading and writing. Through a range of contexts children explore rhymes, songs, sounds, stories and mark-making opportunities.
Mathematics
This area supports children to develop their understanding of numbers, calculating, shape, space and measures.
Understanding The World
This area supports children to make sense of their physical world and their community. Children have opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Expressive Arts and Design
This area supports children in developing their creativity through exploring a range of materials and media to express themselves. Children are encouraged to explore and share their thinking, feelings and ideas in music, art, movement, role play and technology.
Enquiry
Each term we will be focusing on a different enquiry question and this will become a big part of your child's learning. We have a dedicated enquiry lesson, but we also link our English to our enquiry learning, and we add enhancements to our learning environment to ensure children can explore their enquiry through both taught sessions and child-initiated learning.
Autumn 1 Enquiry Question: What makes me, me?
Autumn 2 Enquiry Question: Why is autumn special?
Spring 1 Enquiry Question: Look up, look down, what is all around?
Spring 2 Enquiry Question: What will I find on an adventure?
Summer 1 Enquiry Question: Who is a superhero?
Summer 2 Enquiry Question: How can I take care of living things?
If you would like to know more about our enquiry based learning, or if you have any other questions about the curriculum in EYFS, please do speak to any member of the nursery team, or to Mr Hewes the EYFS lead.
For any further information on the EYFS curriculum, any member of our Nursery team would be happy to answer your questions or you can find information using the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2