Understanding the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Our curriculum
The Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) forms the basis of our curriculum. The EYFS is a structure of learning, development and care for children from birth to 5 years set out by the English government. It is designed to ensure that children learn through play and that they are encouraged and supported to build on their individual needs and interests.
There are seven areas of learning and development in the EYFS that must shape educational programs in the early years setting. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected.
There are three areas which are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These are referred to as the three ‘prime areas’; Communication and Language; Physical Development; Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
We also support children in the four ‘specific areas’, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. These specific areas are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
COMMUNICATION AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT – The children are given the opportunity 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. We provide a bilingual curriculum for our children to give them the opportunity to learn and communicate in a second language
PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT – We create opportunities for the children to be active and interactive and to develop their coordination, control and movement. Children are helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food. All our children have daily Outdoor Garden and Muddy Puddle activities where we encourage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences over an extended period of time.
PERSONAL, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT – We aim to help 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, to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to have confidence in their own abilities.
LITERACY – We encourage children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials to ignite their interest.
MATHEMATICS – We provide the children with lots of different opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.
UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD – We guide children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about nature, people, places, technology and the environment. The Outdoor Area has a significant effect on the natural development of children. In the outdoors children have a larger range of choices for play in nature and it was found that it promotes concentration and reduces stress.
EXPRESSIVE ARTS AND DESIGN – Children explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology. We sing and play music every day.
Each area of learning and development is implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child initiated activity. The level of progress children will be expected to have attained by the end of their learning journey at POIANA Learning Center is defined by a set of early learning goals.
