EYFS at Fellgate

Subject Lead: Mrs A. Malone

On this page, you can find information about EYFS at Fellgate.

Intent:

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum within Fellgate Primary School follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework 2021 which sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to five years old. We uphold the four guiding principles within the EYFS and we strongly believe it is important that these principles are used when implementing the seven areas of learning and development.  We recognise that every child is unique and that they learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships. Furthermore, we believe that children learn and develop best in enabling environments and we recognise that children develop and learn in different ways.

We provide children with a nurturing and enabling ‘family’ environment where they can feel safe, secure and valued and develop a lifelong love of learning. Our ambitious and inclusive curriculum educates all children in knowledge, skills and understanding, to be effective, inquisitive, curious, independent learners and influence their wider thinking across all areas of the curriculum.

Implementation:

At Fellgate we believe in a child-centred approach to early years education with the unique child at its heart. We deliver a motivating and engaging curriculum based on children’s interests and their own experiences as well as introducing exciting new ideas, concepts and experiences to them. We give our children every opportunity to achieve their best. We aim to do this by taking account of our children’s range of life experiences when planning for their learning. We set realistic and challenging expectations that meet the needs of all our children. The curriculum aims to promote independence and resilience whilst ensuring high levels of well-being, involvement and engagement.

Our goal is for all children to feel supported, to take managed risks, to learn from mistakes, to practice and refine new skills and to be challenged in order to reach their full potential. We aim to give our children access to resources, environments and opportunities both indoors and outdoors that invoke a sense of awe and wonder in the world around them.

We follow Development Matters 2021 and deliver the educational programmes for Early Years through the seven areas of learning and development.

The 3 prime areas are:

• Communication & Language
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development

The 3 specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Maths
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and design

The seven areas of learning are delivered through a balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning in the form of play based learning and whole class and small group teaching. Play is important to the learning experiences for our children and we adopt an approach where high emphasis is given to following the children’s interests. Communication and Language is at the forefront of our practice and children are immersed in a language rich environment whereby staff place high priority in utilising every opportunity possible to develop and shape children’s speech and language skills.

We enhance the environment by adding interesting resources and artefacts linked to the theme and to provide a high level of challenge for the children. Challenges are set for the classroom areas both indoors and outdoors, and are designed to stretch children to their full potential.

We recognise that children learn to be strong and independent from secure relationships and mutual respect. We aim to develop caring, respectful, professional relationships with the children and their families and involve them in every aspect of their child’s learning journey. We regularly invite parents into school to support their children’s learning and development.

Impact:

In their Reception year at Fellgate our pupils become respectful, resilient, responsible and engaged children who are eager to move to the next stage of their learning.

They demonstrate high levels of concentration and deep engagement in their learning. They are motivated and eager to join in. They share and co-operate well, demonstrating self-control and respect for others. They develop excellent independent skills and keep on trying hard, particularly if they encounter difficulties.

We regularly assess the children’s progress, in collaboration with all Early Years staff, the children themselves and parents. We value the knowledge parents hold about their children and strongly encourage them to contribute to their child’s achievements through regular communication which allows us to build a more accurate picture of children’s development.

Here, you can find out about EYFS that will tell you more about the subject and how it is taught, monitored and assessed across the school.