Early Years
Children's first year in school (Reception class) is the final year of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which children will have begun in nursery, pre-school or with their childminder.
Our EYFS classroom provides learning for forty five children. Staffed by two teachers and a teaching assistant, it provides a good adult/child ratio. Spacious and well resources indoor and outdoor spaces enable the seven areas of learning to be provided inside and outside.
What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The EYFS curriculum is made up of 7 areas of learning:
3 prime areas (split into 7 aspects)
4 specific areas (split into 6 aspects)
Prime areas of learning
Communication and Language:
speaking and listening
attention and understanding
PSED (personal, social and emotional development):
self regulation
managing self
building relationships
Physical Development
fine motor skills
gross motor skills
Specific areas
Literacy:
comprehension
word reading
writing
Mathematics:
number
numerical patterns
Achievement of a good level of development is given when a child achieves ALL of the above Early Learning Goals [ELG].
The World:
past and present
people, culture and communities
natural world
Expressive Arts and Design
creating with materials
being imaginative and expressive
How is the EYFS Assessed?
When children start at primary school, they are assessed against the national Reception Baseline Assessment. This gives our EYFS Team a thorough understanding of every childs' starting point and their next steps in learning. Children's progress is planned for and assessed throughout the year, with their attainment against age related expectations communicated to parents termly.
At the end of the childrens' first year in school they are assessed against the descriptors for all 17 Early Learning Goals. All have equal value although the first twelve are used to define a 'good level of development' of GLD. This means if a child achieves within the age related standard at the end of the year in all 11 aspects, they have achieved the nationally expected standard.