The Early Years Foundation Stage
What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
It's for children aged 0 - 5 and covers the time they spend in any early years education and childcare setting (including childminders) to the end of reception class in infant or primary school. It was introduced in September 2008.
What will my child learn?
The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of six areas of learning. Each one contains a number of 'Early Learning Goals' which set out what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the reception year in school, and broad stages of development which help show children's progress towards the goals.
What are the Areas of Learning?
Communication, Language and Literacy
Language development is crucial to living and learning as children's confidence is strongly linked to their ability in language skills. These skills can be developed through speaking with and listening to adults and other children, communicating thoughts and feelings, engaging in musical activities, linking letters to sounds, seeing and using familiar words and watching adults write. Speaking and listening will continue to develop as children talk and play with adults and other children in a variety of situations. Gradually, your child will learn to hear and say sounds and begin to link the spoken word to the written word. Through fun activities, they will learn how to make marks and may eventually read and write some familiar words
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This goal will help your child learn to be self-confident, take an interest in things, know what their needs are, tell the difference between right and wrong, and be able to dress and undress.
This goal aims to develop a child's confidence through various methods such as: building positive relationships with other children, developing a sense of independence, working and playing in varying group sizes. It aims to help children develop awareness and acceptance of different religious and cultural beliefs for instance through the use of positive images in books and displays. It also aims to help children develop their skills through play activities; stories, rhymes, music and drama; the environment and personal health and hygiene routines.
Problem Solving , Reasoning and Numeracy
This area of learning covers the broad range of skills needed to develop an understanding of maths. Through stories, songs, games and imaginative play children will be counting, measuring, sorting and solving problems. They will become comfortable with numbers and with ideas such as 'heavier than' or 'bigger' and they will be aware of shape and space.
Knowledge & Understanding of the World
Your child will explore the world around them and ask questions about it. They will build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for. They will find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives, and find out about different cultures and beliefs.
Physical Development
Your child will learn to move confidently, control their body and handle equipment. The will be offered appropriate physical activities, with sufficient time and space. Coordination skills, such as hand-eye coordination, are encouraged.
Creative development
Creative and imaginative play encourages emotional development and self-expression. Your child will explore colours and shapes, experiment with dance, making things, telling stories and making music. This goal covers areas such as, art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play.
Will the goals put pressure on my child?
No, children will feel they are playing and having fun. The pre-school or school staff will provide a selection of appropriate activities both indoors and outdoors. The staff plan the activities based on the current interests and abilities of the children present. Sometimes the activities will be led by adults in order to practise and develop particular skills like using scissors or gluing, or learning new songs and rhymes to develop children's awareness of sounds and letters. At other times children will select what they play with from a rich learning environment set up in the playroom or classroom. They will appear to be playing but, as this is how young children learn, they will be learning too. Washing the dolls' clothes for instance helps develop physical skills, and gives the opportunity to communicate and co-operate with others, and to discover the properties of water and detergent.
How will my child’s progress be recorded?
In Southampton, most early years settings will use ‘Learning Stories in Southampton’ to record their observations and note the progress your child is making. They will consult with parents on a regular basis and will involve you in your child’s learning journey. When your child starts their education and care you will be asked to complete a booklet called ‘My Unique Child’ with the staff. This will help the staff understand all the learning that has taken place already at home and will help them plan for their future learning in the setting. As children continue to spend the majority of their time at home it is important that you continue to be fully involved in their learning. A leaflet about ‘Learning Stories’ is available from early years settings.
Will my child be tested at the end of the Foundation stage?
There is an assessment made of each child at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (that is, at the end of the Reception Class) called the Foundation Stage Profile.
What is the Foundation Stage Profile?
This is a national scheme to help teachers to record observations and to summarise each child's achievements at the end of the Foundation Stage. Assessments are made on the Early Learning Goals of the six areas of learning. Teachers make observations throughout the year and record children’s progress - they do not set special assessment activities.
Where can my child access the Early Years Foundation Stage?
Children will follow the Early Years Foundation Stage in any early years care and education setting, including childminders. Once your child is 3, they are entitled to receive 15 hours of free education and care. (See Early Education for 3 and 4 year old children) Funded places are available in day nurseries, pre-schools (playgroups), maintained (state) school nursery and reception classes, and with accredited childminders in approved Childminding Networks.
