eyfs curriculum
The statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021, sets the standards that all Early Years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept happy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. The framework sets out four overarching principles which shape our practice at Acklam Whin Primary School and Nursery, these are:
- every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured;
- children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships;
- children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers;
- children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.
Communication and Language
We provide opportunities to experience a language rich environment to develop children’s confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations, including conversations, story-telling, and role play to develop a range of vocabulary and language structures.
Physical Development
We provide opportunities for children to be active and interactive; and to develop their core strength, co-ordination, stability, balance, spatial awareness and agility. Children will be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make heathy choices in relation to food.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We help children to develop a positive sense of self, set themselves simple goals and have confidence in their own abilities. Children will learn to look after their bodies including healthy eating and managing personal needs independently. Children will learn how to, make good friendships, co-operate and resolve conflicts peacefully.
During their time at Acklam Whin Primary School, children in Nursery and Reception will access our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum which is made up of seven areas of learning and development. These seven areas shape the activities and experiences we provide for our children and are all important and inter-connected.
Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving.
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through the specific areas, these are:
- Literacy – We encourage children to develop their vocabulary and a life-long love of reading by sharing stories, rhymes and songs. We teach the hearing and recognition of sounds and support the development of skills in reading, spelling and early writing.
- Mathematics – We provide children with opportunities to count confidently, develop a deep understanding of the numbers to 10 and understand the relationships between them and the patterns within those numbers. Children will also learn early ideas relating to shape, space and measure.
- Understanding the World – We guide children to make sense of the physical world and the community around them through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world.
- Expressive Arts and Design – We provide a wide range of media and materials for children to explore and play with, as well as opportunities and encouragement for sharing thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.
We use Development Matters 2022 non-statutory curriculum guidance for the Early Years Foundation Stage, to support us in developing a pathway for the delivery of the EYFS learning and development requirements.
From their individual starting points, our planning ensures opportunities for children to learn new skills, acquire knowledge and demonstrate their understanding by engaging in first hand experiences that reflect the characteristics of effective teaching and learning.
- Playing and Exploring – Finding out and exploring, playing with what they know, being willing to have a go.
- Active Learning – Being involved and concentrating, keep on trying, enjoy achieving what they set out to do.
- Creating and thinking Critically – Having their own ideas, making links, choosing ways to do things.
