EYFS

EYFS Curriculum

Intent: 

Children in our Early Years Foundation Stage, (Nursery and  Reception) follow the Early Years Foundation Stage  Curriculum (EYFS). The EYFS Curriculum has seven main  areas of learning – 

∙ Personal, Social and Emotional Development  

∙ Communication and Language  

∙ Physical development  

∙ Literacy (Reading and Writing)  

∙ Mathematics  

∙ Understanding the world  

∙ Expressive Arts and Design  

A practical, playful approach to learning, based on the  needs and interests of our children, is delivered mainly  through topic based planning.  

Implementation: 

We teach children individually, in small groups, in class  bases and in whole cohorts. Through a combination of  teacher input and continuous provision opportunities, learning is planned to encourage children to develop  their learning independently through exploration and  challenge. 

The “Characteristics of Effective Learning” are at the  heart of the Early Years Curriculum and explore the  different ways in which children learn. They highlight the  importance of playing and learning, active learning and  thinking critically. All the learning experiences we plan for  the children allow them to utilise and develop these skills.  Our learning environments, both inside and outside, are  stimulating and exciting, and relevant to the needs and  age/stage of our children.  

High expectations and modelling from adults promote a  calm atmosphere conducive to learning, whilst easily  accessible resources develop children’s ability to access  the curriculum independently. A vital aspect in the  development of essential knowledge and skills is the use  of continuous provision. This means that children are using  and developing certain skills throughout the year on a  daily/weekly basis. Continuous Provision practice and  principles begin in the Early Years Foundation Stage and  support children to develop key life skills such as  independence; innovation; creativity, enquiry; analysis  and problem solving. 

Impact: 

At the end of their time in the EYFS, children at Edgar  Sewter are empowered by the learning journey that they  have been on. They have developed independence skills  and are able to make choices about what they will do,  and how they will do it. They have begun to master the  challenging skills of negotiating and compromising – finding out about their peers and their preferences, and  sometimes putting the needs of their peers ahead of their own. The children have developed a love of learning and  have all made progress from their starting points. They are  able to tell others about what they have been learning  and how this has helped them. The children at Edgar Sewter are able to express preferences for things and  explain why they have these preferences. They are able  to rise to the high expectations that we have for  behaviour, taking turns, sharing and collaborating with  each other. The children are happy, enthusiastic and full  of ideas that they are keen to share.