Rationale

The Early Years Foundation Stage applies to children from birth to the end of the reception year. In our school, children join us at the beginning of the school year in which they are five. (Compulsory schooling begins at the start of the term after a child’s fifth birthday.) Key Stage 1 begins for our children at the beginning of Year 1. The Early Years Foundation Stage is important in its own right, and in preparing children for later schooling. The Early Years Foundation Stage provides a sound foundation for future learning. It is a period of rapid growth and development, during which children discover a great deal about themselves and the world around them. 

Aims and Objectives:

Overall our aim is to nurture naturally curious children by ensuring that learning is based on enjoyment and challenge. Play is the basis upon which we build children’s confidence to explore, investigate and make sense of their world. We aim to give all children the broad range of knowledge and skills needed for good progress through school and life. We achieve this by:

• Making learning fun
• Challenging and offering the opportunity to investigate
• Providing access to a variety of play experiences throughout all areas of the curriculum
• Giving children ownership of their activities and learning
• Planning a broad and balanced curriculum, with a focus on developing children’s skills and knowledge 
• Children actively participating in new learning opportunities
• Children’s confidence developing, and encouraging them to express their opinions
• Identifying special educational needs early and catering for their specific needs
• Developing a positive disposition towards their learning
• Developing a close working partnership between staff and parents and/or carers
• Every child being included and supported through equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice

The Early Years Foundation Stage is based upon four principles: 

• A Unique Child - every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
• Positive Relationships - children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
• Enabling Environments - children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers.
• Learning and Development - children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.