Oaklands Primary Academy

We want every child to get a fantastic first impression of academy. We also want them to settle as quickly as possible. In their first year, children will follow a child-centred, skills-based curriculum. Daily provision consists of a combination of child-initiated learning and teacher-directed learning

At the beginning of the year, the majority of the day will be child-initiated learning, with the balance gradually shifting as the year progresses. During child initiated learning, children are provided with extensive opportunities to develop their own skills and interests. This facilitates independent learning, improves social skills, and aids personal organisation. Children are assessed continually through recorded observations that inform future planning to ensure continual progression. Learning is focused on The Early Years Foundation Stage principles. These principles set the standards for learning, development and care. The Foundation Stage children follow the revised EYFS curriculum. Our Foundation Stage curriculum is for children in Reception and Nursery, it offers balanced, all-round development. It is divided into seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning are very much interlinked and of equal value.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework (EYFS) sets out the learning and development stages for children as they grow from birth to five years.

Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. For those working in the early years (whether as a childminder or in a nursery, pre-school, or reception class in school), the Early Years Foundation Stage framework outlines what practitioners need to do to support your child. 

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has its own stand-alone curriculum for Pre-School and Reception children in primary settings.  From September 2021 the EYFS curriculum is changing for all settings in England

Early Years Foundation Stage  Framework 2021

The EYFS curriculum is split into Prime and Specific areas.  The prime areas are important because they lay the foundations for children’s success in all other areas of learning and of life.  The specific areas provide the range of experiences and opportunities for children to broaden their knowledge and skills:

The Prime Areas of learning are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development;
• Communication and Language;
• Physical Development.

The Specific Areas of learning are:

• Literacy;
• Mathematics;
• Understanding the World;
• Expressive Arts and Design.

At the end of the Reception year, pupils are benchmarked against the Early Learning Goals for each area.  Attainment is described as either: emerging (working below the expected level) or expected (working at the expected level) and these are reported to parents in the end-of-year written report.  This is a change from previous years as, under the new Early Adopter framework, exceeding (working above the expected level) has been removed.

Changes to the Early Learning Goals (ELGs)

The most significant changes to the ELGs are in the areas of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Mathematics and Understanding the World.  We have attached the New Framework for September 2021 for you, but the key changes are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development – ‘Self-Regulation’ has been a key focus recently and this is now reflected in a new Early Learning Goal. ‘Managing Self’ covers aspects previously covered within Physical Development. The ‘Building Relationships’ goal is very similar to the former ‘Making Relationships’ goal.

Communication and Language - ‘Listening, Attention and Understanding’ are now combined into one goal, with the other goal focusing on ‘Speaking’.

Physical Development - These Early Learning Goals no longer include health and self-care, solely focusing on moving and handling skills. There is now a goal for gross motor skills and a separate goal focusing on fine motor skills.

Literacy - There are now three early learning goals for Literacy, with the reading focus now split into comprehension and reading words.

Mathematics - The new Mathematics Early Learning Goals focus on a deep understanding of number and numerical patterns. Although there is no longer a goal for shape, space and measure the Government consultation response states, ‘Practitioners and teachers will still be required to teach children about shape, space and measures, as part of a well-rounded curriculum as set out in the revised mathematics educational programme.’

Understanding the World - The most noticeable change to the Early Learning Goals for Understanding the World is the inclusion of ‘Past and Present’ and the removal of the ‘Technology’ goal. We will continue to introduce children to appropriate technology to support their learning.

Expressive Arts and Design - The goals for Expressive Arts and Design are broadly similar to the existing goals with mentions of being imaginative and using a variety of materials, tools and techniques.

Statutory EYFS Framework Effective from September 2021

New EYFS Framework

Non-statutory Guidance for EYFs

Birth to 5 Guidance