Early Years Foundation Stage

Activities are organised in six areas of learning and development. Each area has a number of nationally approved goals which prepare children to progress with confidence to the National Curriculum.

Communication, Language and Literacy
Talking and listening are very important elements of the Head Start approach. Vocabulary is extended and fluency improved by responding to stories, songs and rhymes. Children are encouraged to talk about their activities and a great deal of importance is attached to growing the child’s confidence in this area. Writing skills are acquired through play activities (e.g. a Post Office) and mark making, which will allow the children to develop letter formation.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Children are supported in developing confidence, autonomy and self-respect by working independently or as part of a group, where they learn to share and co-operate. They will realise acceptable ways of expressing their own feelings and respecting those of others through activities, conversation and the practical example set by the staff.

Problem Solving, Reasoning & Numeracy
Children gain experience of mathematical concepts such as sorting, matching, ordering, sequencing and counting through games, activities, songs and rhymes. Creative activities enable them to record early maths work through pictorial representation. Sand and water play takes place to reinforce various mathematical concepts.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World
Sand and water play are also used to introduce scientific concepts. The children are given the opportunity to experiment with other natural or manufactured materials. They are encouraged to use observational skills to explore and understand their environment and to find out about past and present events in their lives. The children have opportunities to us a computer with a variety of educational programmes which stimulate learning by rewarding interaction with a strong feedback. Several programmes are mouse driven which helps develop cognitive and motor skills.

Physical Development
A range of equipment is available to encourage manipulative skills and physical co-ordination. Regular P.E. time, either indoors or outside, is an important part of the programme. Children are encouraged to participate in all activities and consideration is given to the stage of their development. On most days children will spend time outdoors benefiting from the opportunity of being in the fresh air.

Creative Development
Children experience a wide range of materials and are encouraged to express their own ideas and feelings through painting, drawing, collage and modelling. Design and construction skills are developed through craft work. The children are invited to explore sounds and use them as accompaniments to jingles, poems, songs and stories. They will have the opportunity to play instruments and make some of their own.

Further information on the ‘The Early Years Foundation Stage’ can be found on the website of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority at www.qca.org.uk.