Dear Parents/Carers of EYFS children,
We have compiled this information to give you some ideas surrounding the expectations and how you can support your child throughout their EYFS journey.
Here at SEC we follow the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework and plan and assess using Early Years Outcomes. Please see below the areas of the learning.
Areas of Learning
All seven areas of learning will have challenging opportunities for your child to progress at their age and stage of development including:
- Personal, Social and Emotional – Making relationships, self-confidence, self-awareness and managing feelings and behaviour.
- Communication and Language – Listening and attention, understanding and speaking.
- Physical Development – Moving and handling and health and self-care.
- Literacy – Reading and writing.
- Mathematics – Number and space, shape and measure.
- Understanding the World – The world, people and communities and technology.
- Expressive Arts and Design – Exploring and using media and materials and being imaginative.
Although we cover a range of topics, our planning is flexible to meet the interests of the children.
At SEC the EYFS children will learn through both continuous provision and focused activities. All children will have the opportunity to learn indoors and in the outdoor area. Continuous Provision plays a big part in the Foundation Stage curriculum. Children are given the opportunities to engage in structured play in during set times of the day. During the rest of the day, the children will be carrying out focused activities with an adult in small groups.
The EYFS Curriculum
Throughout their time in Foundation (nursery & reception), children will work through the ‘Ages and Stages’. These are:
- 0-11 months
- 8-20 months
- 16-26 months
- 22-36 months
- 30-50 months
- 40-60 months – children entering Reception should be working at 40-60m emerging in the areas of learning
Early Learning Goal Children are assessed as working either ‘emerging’, ‘developing’ or ‘expected’ in the areas. For the end of Foundation Two (reception), children are assessed as either ‘emerging’, ‘expected’ or ‘exceeding’ in the Early Learning Goals.
Assessment in EYFS
When your child starts in Foundation the adults carry out a ‘baseline assessment’. This is informal and mostly based on observations of your child. This then informs the ‘next steps’, which then feeds into planning. Each half term, your child’s progress is tracked through the ‘ages and stages’. Their end of year assessment data is then passed on to the next class teacher and shared with you at teacher parent meetings and in their learning journals.
Good Level of Development
For your child to reach a ‘good level of development’, the expectation is that they will reach their age-related expectation in the prime areas, Literacy and Maths. By the end of F2 (reception) children should reach the Early Learning Goals.
Assessment is ongoing. We assess the children through photos, observations and the work they produce. This forms part of their learning journey. Children also have a learning journal which will document their learning journey throughout F1 and F2.
Learning Environment
Our classroom is organised into different areas where children can explore and consolidate their learning. We have a number of different areas such as:
- Creative
- Construction
- Dough
- Small world
- Phonics
- Maths
- Role play
- Reading
Although we have a writing area, we provide writing and mark making materials in every area.
Daily Nursery Routine
Carpet Time/ Talk Time
Continuous Provision
Maths / Writing / Reading
Snack
Continuous Provision
Phonics
Nap Time
How can you help your child in nursery?
There are lots of things you can do at home to help your child get ready for EYFS. You can practise recognising their name, counting skills, number/shape/colour recognition. Please encourage your child to practise taking off and putting on their clothes (zip, buttons etc) and shoes. Although it is not compulsory before starting, your child may feel more confident and independent if they are able to use the toilet and wash their hands. There will be some workshops and events throughout the year that you will be invited to.
Daily Essentials
(Resources to support some of these tasks can be found at the bottom of this page and on the EYFS resources page – EYFS Resources)
Reading
You can access a free eBook collection on Oxford Owl from Oxford Reading Tree that includes many of the books we use in school . All the eBooks in this collection are tablet friendly and have audio playback on each page. They can be accessed here (you will need to register for free): https://www.oxfordowl.co.uk/for-home/find-a-book/library-page
Please spend time reading with your child every day. Encourage them to spot tricky words within a text. Can they predict what might happen next? Can they use the pictures to discuss how characters are feeling? Can they use the pictures to describe the setting? Encourage your child to use positional language and adjectives to extend their vocabulary.
Alphabet
Practise the alphabet daily – do this forwards and backwards, in a quiet voice, a loud voice, silly voices. Ask your child to find a letter and to tell you which letters it comes after, before, or in between.
Phonetic words
Encourage your child to read, spell and write phonetic words by segmenting and blending the sounds.
Tricky words
Take time to spell some ‘tricky’ words using the letter names (rather than the sounds). Say a word and ask your child to spell it out verbally using the letter names. Then spell out a tricky word verbally yourself using the letter names for your child to write down.
Counting
Use a number line to count forwards and backwards to 20 and beyond. Practise counting in 1’s, 2’s and 5’s.
Practise letter and number formation
Practise good letter formation, using a pencil on plain paper.
Resources
Alphabet Strips
Phase 2 Phonics
Tricky Words
Letter Formation
Writing Numbers