EYFS
Principles of the EYFS
The four guiding principles of the EYFS framework shape and underpin our curriculum in your child's reception year at East Coker.
All children develop in different ways and development is not a linear or automatic process. It depends on each unique child having opportunities to interact in positive relationships and enabling environments that encourage their engagement and recognise their strengths. All children have agency and curiosity to learn, and will interact with other people and the world around them in different ways. Understanding these different ways of knowing about the world is central to understanding who children are and how best to support their development.
The four guiding principles of the Early years foundation stage are:
- A Unique Child – every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured.
- Positive Relationships – children learn to be strong and independent through a warm and loving positive secure relationships with parents and/or other key persons
- Enabling Environments – Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers.
- Learning and Development – Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early year’s provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development.
In the Early years foundation stage there are 7 areas of learning.
All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. They are split into Prime Areas of Learning, which are fundamental and run throughout the EYFS.
The areas of learning and development (in bold) and the aspects of learning (bulleted) are:
Communication and Language
- Listening, Attention and Understanding
- Speaking
Personal, Social and Emotional development
- Self-Regulation
- Managing Self
- Building Relationships
Physical Development
- Fine Motor Skills
- Gross Motor Skills
The Specific Areas include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas and provide important contexts for learning. These are:
Literacy
- Comprehension
- Word Reading
- Writing
Mathematics
- Number
- Numerical Patterns
Understanding the World
- Past and Present
- People, Culture and Communities
- The Natural World
Expressive Arts and Design
- Creating with Materials
- Being Imaginative and Expressive
These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. The curriculum is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests.
The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning further underpin learning and development across all areas: These are:
- Playing and exploring (engaging)
- Active learning (motivation)
- Creating and thinking critically (thinking skills).
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.
Click here for a link to the DfE Statutory Framework for EYFS
EYFS Progression
Reception Baseline Assessment
Click here for a link to the Reception baseline assessment parent information booklet