Early Years Foundation Stage

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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old.

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Overview

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• What does learning look like in Reception?
• Prime and specific areas of learning and development
• The Early Learning Goals
• How do we assess learning in Reception?
• How do we facilitate learning in Reception?
• Mathematics in Reception
• Literacy/ English in Reception
• How can I help my daughter?
• Questions

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What does learning look like in Reception?

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What does learning look like in Reception?

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Prime and Specific Areas

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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is split into 7 areas of learning and development

The 7 areas are split into the Prime and Specific Areas

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Prime Areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
• Physical Development
• Communication and Language

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The EYFS Prime Areas of Learning are foundational. They play a significant role in encouraging children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning. They're a driving force behind helping children as they learn to form relationships, moderate emotions and thrive in their day-to-day life.

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Prime and Specific Areas

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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is split into 7 areas of learning and development

The 7 areas are split into the Prime and Specific Areas

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Specific Areas:

• Literacy (English)
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

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The EYFS framework describes the Specific Areas of Learning as the 'essential skills and knowledge which children will need to function successfully as part of society'. The Specific Areas of Learning cannot be developed alone and rely on the skills gained in the Prime Areas of Learning.

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• The 7 areas of learning and development are divided into further categories that make up the 17 early learning goals (ELGs)
• The early learning goals or ELGs, define the level of progress children are expected to have attained by the end of their Reception year
• The end of the Reception year also marks the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) before your daughter moves into Key Stage 1 (Years 1 & 2)
• Children will be working towards the ELGs during their whole time in early years education. Over time, these goals develop the skills needed for the rest of your child’s school life and beyond.

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The Early Learning Goals

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The Early Learning Goals - Examples

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The Early Learning Goals - Examples

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How do we continuously assess learning in Reception?

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• Observations of learning and development across the curriculum
• Recorded work or observations from focused adult-led activities
• Recorded work from phonics and handwriting sessions
• Regular individual phonics assessments and high frequency word assessments
• Baseline and end of year individual assessments
• General teacher knowledge built about the children and their learning and development, including from specialist teachers

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• Parent input

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How do we facilitate learning in Reception?

Here are some examples of low-quality interactions.

These examples provide limited learning opportunities and do not challenge or support the children.

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�Establishing and sustaining two-way quality interactions

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How do we facilitate learning in Reception?

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• We ask genuine questions that open up rather than close down the learning opportunity
• We interact rather than interfere
• Sometimes it is better to wait, watch and wonder, whilst learning more about the child and their understanding

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Tell me about …….I wonder if……. Where do you think that comes from? Have you seen anything like this before? Why do you think that? Can you explain.....? How do you think it was made? How did you…? What does it smell/ feel / look / sound / taste like? Can you describe …...? What do you think ...? How do you know ...? Do you have a reason ...? How can you be sure ...? Is this always so ...? Is there another way/reason/idea ...? What if it does not ...? What else can you do with…? Where is there another example of this?

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Mathematics

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• Mathematics lessons
• Focus activities supported by an adult
• Independent Learning activities
• Regular activities e.g. counting items, singing the days of the week, noticing shapes and patterns in the immediate environment
• Mathematical skills that are developed through specialist lessons e.g. Physical Education, Music
• Home learning activities

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Mathematics

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We follow Power Maths: a UK curriculum mastery programme designed to spark curiosity and excitement and nurture confidence in Mathematics. It is built around a child‑centred lesson design which models and embeds a growth mindset approach to Mathematics, and focuses on helping all children to build a deep understanding of concepts. Activities are practical and adapted according to the individual attainment level of each pupil. In order to develop a deeper understanding of key mathematical concepts, teaching will focus on a CPA (concrete-pictorial-abstract) approach.

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Mathematics

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• Understanding of a concept is built over many small steps
• Concepts are introduced using real life examples, concrete objects and pictorial (visual) representations
• Children can practise their understanding through play
• Children will complete their recorded understanding with support from an adult, which also allows the adult to support or extend learning

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Mathematics

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How can I help my daughter with Mathematics?

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• Listen to and sing mathematical songs
• Read mathematical themed stories and books (Books for Topics website link)
• Use equipment to measure when cooking
• Practise counting- you can do this anywhere: count toys, books, How many buses you can see?
• Play hide and seek - counting
• Save your cereal boxes and cardboard tubes for making models. Your daughter will think they’re making a castle; you’ll know they’re learning about shape!
• Do a jigsaw together – a fun way to develop spatial awareness and matching skills
• Play card games – even a simple game of snap helps to develop number recognition
• Have a teddy bears’ picnic: count out toys, place settings and share out the food
• Put up a height chart and mark each member of the family's height
• At bath time, play with and explore different-sized containers
• Go on a number hunt outside - can you spot any numbers in the world around you?
• Play a doubles game - can you find or make double the amount?

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Literacy/English

• English lessons
• Phonics - small group sessions
• Guided Reading - small group sessions including 1:1 reading
• Handwriting support in small groups - a focus on pencil grip, fine motor skills
• Focus activities supported by an adult
• Independent Learning activities
• Story time
• Show & Tell
• Reading for Pleasure - In our library with our Librarian Ms Jupp
• Drama - Mrs Lynch
• Philosophy - Mrs Lynch
• Home learning activities and reading at home
• Development of related skills across other areas of the Reception curriculum
• Communication and Language provision

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Literacy/English - Reading

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Literacy/English - Writing

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Literacy/ English

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• Understanding of a concept is built over many small steps and requires lots of rehearsal time
• Concepts are introduced and practised across the curriculum e.g. Phonics, Guided Reading, Handwriting, English lessons, Drama, Independent Learning and at home
• Children can develop their understanding through play and independent activities
• Children will complete their recorded understanding with support from an adult, which also allows the adult to support or extend learning

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How can I help my daughter with Literacy/ English?

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• Reading at home - with and to your daughter
• High Frequency Word practice
• Home learning activities sent home by school
• Play word games e.g. Make up silly sentences where every word starts with the same sound e.g. Sally smelt six sizzling spicy sausages, I spy, spot the odd word out from a list
• Make a shopping list and get them to follow it as you read it out at the shops
• Everywhere you go, spot things to read e.g. at the shops, a cereal box, on the bus, in a waiting room
• Discuss their experiences and observations
• Give them plenty of encouragement to draw, colour, write/ mark make and provide exciting resources e.g. colouring pencils, different colour paper, chalk, paintbrushes
• Use the Phonics sound mat in your daughter’s reading record when they are writing

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How can I help my daughter?

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• Talk with her about her experiences (wait, watch and wonder)
• Read with her and to her regularly
• Complete any home learning activities from school
• Follow her interests where possible
• Support her to be independent (zips, buttons, knife and fork)
• Make links to the Channing characters where possible
• Continue to communicate with school

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