Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is how the Government and early years professionals describe the time in your child's life between birth and five years of age. The Department for Education provides a statutory framework with mandatory guidance for all early years providers in England to follow from 1^st September 2021.

EYFS is based upon four guiding principles. These are:

• 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 with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
• importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates. Welcome to Reception

Throughout the day there are opportunities for children to complete adult directed and child-initiated activities. By offering a range of diverse and open-ended experiences children will progress in the following areas:

Prime Areas of learning:

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

These Prime Areas are the most essential for your child's healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the Prime Areas will help them to develop skills in four Specific Areas.

Specific Areas of Learning:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Early Learning Goals

The level of development children should be expected to have attained by the end of the EYFS is defined by the early learning goals (ELGs). The ELGs should support teachers to make a holistic, best-fit judgement about a child’s development, and their readiness for year 1. Please click the link below to view a summary of the Early Learning Goals (ELGs).

Click here to see a summary of the Early Learning Goals

Within EYFS we also pay close attention to the Characteristics of Effective Learning, as outlined in the statutory framework. These are important life skills and attitudes that we aspire to instil in all of our children. These are:

• Playing and Exploring
• Active Learning
• Creating and Thinking Critically

Curriculum design

In order to support your child’s development in early years, we use Development Matters, non-statutory curriculum guidance, todesign an effective early years curriculum, building on the strengths and meeting the needs of the children at Yew Tree Primary Academy.

Please click on the links below for our 2021-2022 curriculum maps

Nursery 2021-22

Reception 21-22

Should you like any further information about the EYFS statutory framework or our curriculum please speak to us or feel free to browse the information in the links below.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf

https://foundationyears.org.uk/

Assessment in EYFS

As outlined in the EYFS statutory framework, assessment plays an important part in helping parents, carers and practitioners to recognise children’s progress, understand their needs, and to plan activities and support. Ongoing assessment (also known as formative assessment) is an integral part of the learning and development process. It involves practitioners knowing children’s level of achievement and interests, and then shaping teaching and learning experiences for each child reflecting that knowledge.

Progress check at age two

When a child is aged between two and three, practitioners must review their progress, and provide parents and/or carers with a short written summary of their child’s development in the prime areas. This progress check must identify the child’s strengths, and any areas where the child’s progress is less than expected.

Assessment at the start of the reception year – the Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)

The Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) is a short assessment, taken in the first six weeks in which a child starts reception.

Assessment at the end of the EYFS – the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP)

In the final term of the year in which the child reaches age five, and no later than 30 June in that term, the EYFS Profile must be completed for each child. The Profile provides parents and carers, practitioners and teachers with a well-rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their attainment against expected levels, and their readiness for year 1. This profile is then used to support the transition process of children from EYFS into Year 1.

Transition to EYFS at Yew Tree Primary Academy

From September our environment may look slightly different to our usual setting as we will be continuing to follow government advice and guidelines. Therefore, we would love to invite you into our setting for a transition meeting where you and your child will meet our EYFS staff team. Prior to this meeting the following information will be shared with you via email. Please familiarise yourself with this and our staff team will be happy to discuss anything with you prior to your visit or during your visit. We look forward to welcoming you to our EYFS unit at Yew Tree Primary Academy.

Click here to see information about our team and learning environment