EYFS
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is designed with the unique child in mind. By looking at each child as an individual and working in partnership with parents / carers, we are here to support each child’s development through play whilst taking into account how we can help further their learning.
PiXieS works in conjunction with the D.F.E.S (Development for Education and Skills) to ensure the children in our care are given the opportunity to develop and learn in accordance to the government’s recommendations.
The framework is made up of 4 main themes, which celebrate the skill and competence of babies and young children, highlighting the underpinning associations of growth, learning, development and the environment in which they are cared for and educated in.
The four themes are:
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, parents and carers.
Learning and development – Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers education and care of all children in early years provision including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
The EYFS curriculum is based around seven areas of learning and development.
Prime Areas:
Communication & Language – listening and attention, understanding, and speaking.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development – making relationships, self confidence and self awareness and managing feelings and behaviour.
Physical Development – moving and handling, and health and self care.
The Prime Areas develop through effective relationships and experiences and remain fundamental throughout the EYFS.
The four Specific Areas of learning grow from the Prime Areas and provide important contexts for extending skills and knowledge.
Specific Areas:
Literacy – reading and writing.
Mathematics – numbers, shape, space and measure.
Understanding the World – people and communities, the world and technology.
Expressive Arts & Design – exploring and using media and materials, and being imaginative.
For each area, the level of progress that children are expected to have attained by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage is defined by the Early learning goals. These goals state what it is expected that children will know, and be able to do, by the end of the reception year of their education.
Here at PiXieS we understand that all children engage with other people and their environment through the characteristics of effective learning that are described in the Early Years Foundation Stage as:
Playing and exploring – engagement.
Active learning – motivation.
Creating and thinking critically – thinking.
PiXieS aim to provide for the characterisitics of effective learning by observing how a child is learning and being clear about what we can do and provide in order to support each child to remain an effective and motivated learner.
Every child at PiXieS has an online Learning Journey through Tapestry, which every parent has their own log in details and can access it at any time either through the internet or on a downloaded app. Every child’s keyworker record’s each child’s achievements, in an observation sometimes provided with a photo too – this can also be contributed to by parents / carers themselves sharing special achievements and what they like to do during their time at home. From starting as a baby through to starting school, this unique online journal also allows us to plan your child’s next steps and supports us in planning for your child’s development.
A parents guide to the EYFS https://foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/What-to-expect-in-the-EYFS-complete-FINAL-16.09-compressed.pdf
The British Values guide https://foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Fundamental-British-Values-in-the-Early-Years-2017.pdf
