Early Years Foundation Stage

Intent

The Early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in securing solid foundations that our children continue to build upon throughout their school life. It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning.  

In EYFS we strongly believe that we are at the beginning of our children’s educational journey. By igniting the flame for learning, we are transforming lives, building communities for the future and broadening horizons.

We offer a balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning using continuous play and small group activities, ensuring that all children are valued as an individual. By providing this environment for learning, we passionately believe that our children are able to achieve their full, unique potential. 

Implementation

The teaching of EYFS curriculum is practical, playful and inclusive with support and challenge from adults in class sessions, small groups and working with individuals.

There is a combination of adult-led, teacher taught sessions as well as a wealth of stimulating continuous provision opportunities when adults scaffold learning through skilful interactions and questioning.

All of the crucial skills, knowledge and vocabulary that we teach are presented to the children throughout the year. These encompasses a range of topics, which are designed with their fascinations and interests in mind and supporting children to develop their experience and knowledge across a range of themes.

 Focus child observations ensure that children’s individual interests are developed alongside a strong progressive curriculum.

Our learning environments, both inside and outside are also adapted regularly to meet the different and developing needs of the children in our care. 

We aim to ensure that these areas are always stimulating and exciting and that, importantly, they are accessible to and challenge all children, regardless of where they are on their developmental journey. 

The environments are developed to promote independence within our children and allow them to access the curriculum independently and confidently with the necessary level of support and challenge.

Within our EYFS, children are assessed continuously through accurate and specific observations. These provide us with information for immediate and future planning, not only for our individual classes but also for individual children’s next steps in their learning. 

Observations enable us, as EYFS practitioners, to ensure learning is embedded and consistent and that all children continue to make outstanding progress within our EYFS settings.

Our online assessment app, ‘2Build a profile’ is used to create online journals of evidence to demonstrate the children’s learning and progress over time. Evidence of learning will also be recorded within the pupil’s books and in their independent work folders and all will be used for internal and external moderation.

Leaders will monitor the quality and impact of the EYFS Curriculum through regular pupil voice and assess the extent to which pupils know more and remember more as they progress through the Phase.

Impact

By the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage the majority will have reached their personal best and have achieved outstanding progress. Aiming for a good level of development measure (GLD). They will have achieved at least the expected level in the ELGs across the Prime Areas of Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development and in the Specific Areas of Literacy and Mathematics.  All children will have made significant personal progress across all areas of learning.

They will leave EYFS ready for the next stage of their education within school and will have the knowledge and skills to benefit from what school has to offer when they are ready to move on.

SEND/Disadvantaged

Our ambition is for all of our pupils to access the full EYFS Curriculum.  These pupils will be supported to provide them with full accessibility to all aspects of the EYFS provision.