What to expect in EYFS for parents
Last year we implemented the new version of the Early Years Foundation Stage.
This is our guidance for the journey that your child will enjoy with us over the course of their time in EYFS.
What to Expect in EYFS
What Is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year. It sets the standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old and ensure that your child will learn and develop well and be kept healthy and safe. It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning and is the same curriculum as in reception classes in school. From September 2021 the EYFS has changed.
What Will My Child Be Learning?
The EYFS framework outlines seven areas of learning and development and educational programmes. There are three prime areas of learning, which are particularly important for your child’s development and future learning:
- Communication and language
- Personal, social and emotional development
- Physical development
There are four specific areas of learning, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design
We will consider your child’s needs and interests to plan challenging and enjoyable activities and experiences. You can help us to do this by sharing your observations of your child’s interests at home.
There are also three characteristics of effective teaching and learning:
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
These tell us about how each child learns not what they are learning
Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, relate to others, set their own goals and solve problems. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults.
The new curriculum gives us the opportunity to spend more time interacting and playing with your children. This means that we will not be completing as many observations as we did previously but we will still monitor progress and take photos. It is so important that you share news from home with us and we will ask for lots of info and photos!
What can you do to help your child?
- Chat, play and read to and with them
- Encourage them to be independent – putting own shoes on/coats on
- Play board games with them and listen to music and learn songs
- Use SeeSaw or our facebook page to look at photos to use as conversation starters
There is a new focus on early language and extending vocabulary. You can help us do this by:
- Having quality learning conversations and interactions with your child
- Reading a range of stories, poems, rhymes and non-fiction texts
- Teaching your child new words and vocabulary
- Talk and commentate are you are out on a walk, take photos and then look at them together
- Sharing what you are doing with your child at home
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact us.
