EYFS

The Early years Foundation Stage

The Revised Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum was introduced in September 2012.This is underpinned by four themes: a unique child, positive relationships, enabling environments and learning and development. These themes stress the importance of meeting the developmental needs of each child. Part of this involves assessing how the children learn, which is referred to as the ‘Characteristics of Learning’. These include: playing and exploring (engagement), active learning (motivation) and creating and thinking critically (thinking.)

The curriculum is made up from three prime and four specific areas of learning. The three prime areas of learning and development outlined by the curriculum are: Personal, Social and Emotional Development (self-confidence and self-awareness, managing feelings and behaviour and making relationships / developing social skills), Communication and Language (listening and attention, understanding and speaking) and Physical Development (moving and handling and health and self-care.)

The four specific areas of learning and development are: Literacy (Reading / Writing), Mathematics (Numbers / Shape, space and measures), Understanding the World (People and Communities / The World / Technology) and Expressive arts and design (Exploring and using media and materials / Being imaginative.)The Curriculum is child focused, is play based and includes focus activities which practice core skills.

Our teaching in Reception is designed to support the children in working towards the ‘Early learning Goals’. Each child’s progress is regularly assessed in order to ensure that the teaching, focussed activities and learning environment are meeting the children’s learning needs. There is an emphasis on learning in fun and practical ways, where the interests and skills of the children can be followed and developed.

Each child is taught with respect, in the belief that children need a safe, happy and stimulating environment in which to gain confidence and learn about the world around them.

Home school links are considered important to the child’s learning and development and to ensure that we recognise the essential role that parents/carers play in their child’s development.

Although we have our own curriculum in Reception, like the other classes in school we also follow the Catholic Religious Education programme (‘Come and See’.)