Early Years Foundation Stage

This is a stage of education designed for children in the early years. It is a distinct stage and encourages children to develop skills within a play based environment. The curriculum is divided into seven areas of learning and development.

The three prime areas are: Communication and language, Physical development and Personal, social and emotional development.

The four specific areas are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the world and Expressive arts and design. At Littletown we place a great emphasis on speaking, language and listening skills when children join us, so that they have the tools to get off to a really good start.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

At the end of the EYFS – in the summer term of the reception year in school – teachers complete an assessment which is known as the EYFS Profile. This assessment is carried out by the reception teachers and is based on what they, and other staff caring for your child, have observed over a period of time.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development involves helping children develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings.

Communication and Language involves providing opportunities for children to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Physical Development involves providing opportunities for children to be active and develop their co-ordination, control and movement through a range of PE activities such as Gymnastics and in the summer the children go swimming. Children should be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Literacy involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. We follow a well-established and successful phonic programme.

Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to be able to describe shapes, spaces and measures.

Understanding the World involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive Arts and Design involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. They also have opportunities to share their thoughts, ideas and feelings through art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design technology.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning describe factors which play a central role in a child’s learning and in becoming an effective learner. They are vital elements of support for the transition process from EYFS to year 1. The characteristics of effective learning run through and underpin all 7 areas of learning and development. They represent processes rather than outcomes.   Information about the child’s characteristics of effective learning gives year 1 teachers vital background and context about their next stage of development and future learning needs.

The characteristics are in three different areas: 

Playing and exploring – engagement: 

Active learning - motivation

Creating and thinking critically