Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception)

Children in Nursery and Reception follow the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage which focuses on seven main areas of learning and development, divided into ‘Prime’ and ‘Specific’ areas.

Prime areas (Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development) are fundamental, work together, and support development in all other areas.
Specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design) include essential skills and knowledge for children to participate successfully in society. These areas are broken down into 17 Areas of Learning and each has an Early Learning Goal statement for pupils to work towards. Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning focus on the ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically. These characteristics underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner throughout the Early Years and into Key Stage 1.

Assessment in the Foundation Stage

On-going assessment is at the heart of effective early years practice. Practitioners observe, assess and support children, considering ways to support children to strengthen and deepen their current learning and development.

Best-fit judgements are made against the Early Learning Goals about whether a child is working at an expected level of development for their age, emerging or working towards an expected level or exceeding the expected level of development. To achieve a Good Level of Development at the end of the EYFS pupils have to have achieved an expected level of development in the first 12 areas of learning (Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy and Mathematics). The EYFS requires early years practitioners to review children’s progress and share a summary with parents at the end of the EYFS (Reception Year) in the EYFS Profile.

Please also look at individual class pages for curriculum maps.