EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage

Curriculum planning:

A warm welcome to our Early Years Foundation Stage at Eastfield Primary School. We plan an exciting and ambitious curriculum based on our observations of children’s needs, interests, and stages of development across the seven areas of learning with the prime focus of preparing our pupils for a seamless transition to the next stage of their education in year 1. All seven areas of learning and development are as equally important and interconnected. The three prime areas of learning are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building on their foundational knowledge to become lifelong learners.

These three areas are:

Communication and Language
Physical Development; and Personal
Social and Emotional Development

Children are also supported through the four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The specific areas are:

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

Children in EYFS are provided with a range of enriched, meaningful experiences where children can physically and mentally explore, think creatively and develop self-awareness. We aim to develop and foster positive attitudes towards learning, confidence, communication and physical development.

As a team, we carefully plan a robust and purposeful curriculum, along with educational trips, experience days and parent/guardian events. Our curriculum plans ensure that learning is not left to chance. Every lesson is planned and sequenced progressively so that children can build on their knowledge throughout the year. Language, skills and knowledge is carefully planned for enabling children to develop holistically during their first year of school.

At Eastfield, we acknowledge the importance of children’s well-being and self-awareness and for children to progress and learn, children need to feel safe and happy. During their first weeks of school, we take time to build relationships and routines with your children, getting to know them and their interests and abilities.

Communication and Language is at the forefront of our pedagogy, the development of these skills is given priority to ensure future learning is not jeopardised. Through quality first teaching, children are immersed into language enriched experiences along with first-hand interactions with adults and their peers. We pride ourselves on our quality interactions with children, to develop their ability to communicate effectively and to gain a wider range of vocabulary and confidence when speaking.

Executive function (the ability to focus and pay attention, remember instructions and demonstrate self-control) is well rehearsed throughout children’s first year at Eastfield, we factor in playful and meaningful ways to ensure these skills are developed, as we believe children learn more effectively when executive function is achieved. Please click the link for more information. EEF -Developing executive function

We respond to the interests of all children by weaving these into our daily curriculum. Our Early Years Curriculum plan is based on the EYFS Statutory Framework. Our practice and pedagogy are supported by current research and the non-statutory guidance documents ‘Development Matters’ and ‘Birth to Five’.

At Eastfield Primary School, early reading is of up most importance. To ensure success for all, we use a validated Systematic Synthetic Phonics scheme (SSP) called ‘Little Wandle Letters and Sounds’. Please click the link for more information Little Wandle Phonics .

To develop foundational skills in number, shape, space and measure we teach children mathematics using two schemes as a spine; Mastering Number and White Rose Maths. Both of which are used throughout the school. A progressive maths curriculum ensures children leave EYFS with the skills they need to access future learning in Year 1.

Your child’s writing journey starts as soon as they enter EYFS where they will be able to access writing opportunities in purposeful contexts.

There is a heavy focus in EYFS on transcription skills. Transcription skills are developed throughout our phonics programme and daily Literacy lessons are delivered and complimented by a range of stories, rhymes and non-fiction texts. These texts have been carefully selected to ensure all children develop a love of reading and writing. Children will take part in several fine-motor programmes such as Squiggle while you Wriggle and Dough Disco, both of which enable children to develop their fine-motor skills to be able to hold a pencil to write.

Our wider curriculum is also delivered through taught sessions as well as through adult and child led discovery and discussions. Knowledge acquisition is again, carefully sequenced and progressive, giving children the foundational knowledge and skills they will need for future learning.

Outdoor Learning:

At Eastfield Primary school we believe that young children thrive when learning outdoors. Children demonstrate heightened wellbeing and involvement when given the freedom to engage with the natural environment. We as EYFS practitioners, provide a sustainable, quality outdoor environment that sparks children’s imagination and creativity which enables them to be independent, risk taking, hands-on learners.

Children have access to outdoor space where they can be as active and energetic as they please, where they can develop their social skills and build relationships through quality interactions with both adults and peers. Children have endless opportunities for discovery, play and talk, in a safe environment which enables them to share and test out their ideas. They can be as noisy and messy as they want to be, using their senses to explore the natural world around them. Our open-ended enhancements provide children with an array of endless opportunities to develop the skills they need to be confident and creative learners.

Please see our detailed termly curriculum plans for more information on learning in EYFS, at Eastfield Primary School.

EYFS

EYFS

Early Years Foundation Stage

Curriculum planning:

These three areas are:

The specific areas are:

Outdoor Learning:

Further Information