At Yew Tree Community School, we believe that all children deserve the right to an engaging education which ignites excitement and curiosity, and inspires them to want to learn, alongside learning purposeful knowledge and skills. We want to provide children with memorable experiences and key life skills during their time with us in EYFS. We want children to respect and care for others and to develop self-regulation and social skills. By providing them with an education that does all of this, we believe children will have the best chance to become well- rounded, confident and happy individuals ready to succeed in an ever-changing world.
There are four overarching principles in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). These principles underpin all aspects of teaching and learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage.
- Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- 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 and carers.
- Children develop and learn in different ways. The statutory framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and
disabilities.
When planning, we consider the characteristics of effective teaching and learning. In planning and guiding what children learn, staff reflect on their practice to ensure that all children are supported.
The 3 characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
- playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
- active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
- creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things
The EYFS framework includes 7 areas of learning and development that are equally important and inter-connected. However, 3 areas known as the prime areas are seen as particularly important for igniting curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building children’s capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
The prime areas are:
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
The prime areas are strengthened and applied through 4 specific areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive Arts and design
Tests and Assessments
Good Level of Development (GLD)
Children are defined as having reached a Good Level of Development (GLD) at the end of the EYFS if they have achieved the expected level for the Early Learning Goals in the prime areas of learning and the specific areas of mathematics and literacy.
You will get the results of the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile when your child is at the end of Reception.
