Early Years Foundation Stage - Welcome to Reception
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-
At the beginning of the year, the majority of the day will be child-
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
Non-statutory Guidance for EYFs
Click on these documents to find out more about early learning and play.
'DIP ‘N’ DO' HOMEWORK
- For each half term, we have set 6 activities covering different areas of the curriculum. Children can then pick the activity that most inspires them and motivates them, or that aligns with their current learning - they have the freedom to 'get creative' and are encouraged to share their 'dip and do' in class.
- Our aim is to make homework fun and engaging! Homework is an extension of our rich and varied new curriculum and these activities are designed to encourage the following and headings may include over the year :
Get observing Get making Get thinking Get creative Get reading Get writing Get inventing
Get researching Get fit Get sketching Get arty Get visiting Get talking
- We will also include online learning using areas such as DB primary (our safe and secure platform) and Bug Club - we expect all children to READ, READ, READ, READ AND READ SOME MORE!
- Please do print off a copy as needed; if there are any issues with the links, please contact our admin team. If you would like any of these emailed, do get in touch - we would be delighted to email them to you. Enjoy and have fun dipping and doing!