EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage)
In Nursery and Reception classes children have extended opportunities to learn through play. Learning takes place both inside and outside the classroom. Through a mixture of carefully planned adult activities and more spontaneous child led activities the children develop skills and understanding in the following 7 areas of learning:
The Prime Areas of Learning are:
Personal, social and emotional development (PSED)
Children are encouraged to establish positive relationships with adults and other children. They learn to work co-operatively as part of a group, to understand what is right and wrong and why and to consider the consequences of their actions. Adults working in early years aim to encourage all children, to make sure that each child is given an equal chance to join in with the range of activities on offer and that all children feel equally valued as part of the whole group.
Communication and Language (CL)
Children have the opportunity to develop their speaking and listening, reading and writing skills by sharing and enjoying many stories, rhymes and non-fiction books. We also focus on identifying sounds using the ‘Letters and Sounds’ programme.
Physical development (PD)
Children use a range of balancing and climbing apparatus to develop their co-ordination and awareness of space. They use a variety of sports equipment in class and team games. We also focus on using smaller tools, construction and malleable materials to practise skills
The Specific Areas of Learning are:
Mathematics (M)
Children learn about pattern, shape, and measures. They order, sequence and sort with objects and numbers through practical activities. They are encouraged to use mental strategies and skills as well as number rhymes, songs and games.
Literacy (L)
Literacy Development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters, and begin to read and write.
Understanding the World (UW)
This area of learning includes science, history, geography, design technology, information technology and religious education within topics. We focus on providing the children with a range of activities and different equipment to investigate and use.
Expressive arts and design (EAD)
Children explore colour, shape, texture, form and space through a range of activities in art, music, dance, stories and imaginative play. We provide them with opportunities to express and communicate their ideas and feelings.
Children come to school with different experiences and progress at different rates and some children will need additional support with some aspects of their learning, whilst others need extra challenges.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning (CofEL)
- 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; and
- creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
The CofEL focus on how children learn, rather than what they are learning. At Odessa we link our Learning Powers to the CofEL in the EYFS to enable all children to develop and be the best that they can be. With a rich and broad curriculum we provide our children with opportunities to really explore and to take a pride in their achievements.
At the end of the Reception year children’s progress is assessed against the Early Learning Goals and the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile.
Curriculum Maps
Curriculum maps for EYFS and individual subjects can be found on our Subjects/Curriculum Maps overview page.
