Foundation Stage

About the Foundation Stage
 

Our Foundation Stage has two Early Years classrooms with a playground area. This includes an outdoor area for physical and creative play, and a small trim trail. There is seating for picnics at lunch time and an outdoor classroom for shade on sunny days. The outdoor space is completely enclosed by its own fence which enables us to use all the areas for outside teaching and playing within a safe environment. The indoor learning space includes a generous area for construction play, a cloakroom space and toilets specifically for Early Years children. The children get used to the school day within their own surroundings and are taken into the main school hall for assemblies, lunch and PE.

Foundation Stage Curriculum

The areas of learning and development:

There are seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

The three prime areas are:

• Communication and language
• Physical Development
• Personal, social and emotional development.

The four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design.
   

Communication and language

Giving children opportunities 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.

Physical development

This provides opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, social and emotional development

Helping children to 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

Encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.

Mathematics

Providing children with 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

Guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive arts and design

Enabling children to 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.