The Early Years
Provision is organised in line with the revised Early Years Framework 2021 taking into consideration each child’s starting point to guide them forward on their unique learning journey. The seven education programmes of the framework underpin the Early Years curriculum which are divided into three Prime areas and four Specific.
The three Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning celebrate the different ways in which children learn, the thinking that is applied and the attitudes that are being displayed.
Educational Programmes
The three prime areas are the foundations of the Early Years curriculum and includes:
Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, social and emotional development
The four specific areas continue to strengthen the three prime areas through:
Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive arts and design
The three Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning are:
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
- Creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Children work towards achieving the following 17 Early Learning Goals by the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage:
Communication and Language
- Listening, attention and understanding
- Speaking
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Self-regulation
- Managing self
- Building relationships
Physical Development
- Gross motor skills
- Fine motor skills
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
Observations of children’s learning and achievements are continually carried out to monitor each child’s progress throughout the year and the staff compile a wealth of information on each child to reflect their ‘Learning Journey’ throughout their reception year. Progress and next steps are regularly shared with parents and carers and observations, achievements and successes from home can be shared with the class teacher and celebrated in school. The Learning Journey profile can be viewed online and discussed further during our parent consultation evenings.