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 EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE At St John’s Nursery Playgroup we incorporate play opportunities and activities to ensure that children are able to build knowledge and skills to cover the six areas of learning within the foundation stage. Learning through Play 
Play is crucial to the development and learning of young children and high quality play experiences during the early years give children a solid foundation for later learning. Play challenges children’s problem solving skills, develops their thinking, manipulative and social skills and leads to increased self confidence and self-esteem. For this reason St John’s is committed to planning and providing a learning environment full of interesting and stimulating play activities appropriate for each child’s age and stage of development, which help children progress in each of the areas of learning and development within the Early Years Foundation Stage
Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory Framework for all Early Years settings working with children from 0-5 years since September 2008. The Early Years Foundation Stage is divided into 6 areas of learning and development The new Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) combines and replaces the Foundation Stage Curriculum Guidance and the Birth to Three matters Framework. It is the statutory Framework for all Early Years settings working with children from 0-5 years from September 2008. St John's has embraced the new EYFS curriculum and has implemented the statutory requirements. St John's has already embraced the new EYFS curriculum and has implemented many of the statutory requirements which have to be in place by autumn 2008. The Early Years Foundation Stage divides children’s learning and development into 6 areas of learning. 
For each area of learning, there are developmental steps which describe the stages through which children are likely to pass as they move to achievement of the goals. St John’s uses the early learning goals and their developmental steps to help us to record and celebrate each individual child's progress and achievements enabling us to provide the right activities to help all of the children to achieve their potential. Personal, social and emotional development 
Children are provided with experiences and support to enable them to develop a positive sense of themselves and others. We encourage them to develop respect for others, social skills and independence as well as a positive disposition to learn, confidence in themselves and pride in their achievements. Children are encouraged to express their ideas and feelings at every opportunity, value themselves and their contribution to the ‘playgroup family’
Communication language and literacy 
Children are given daily opportunities to share and enjoy a wide range of books, rhymes, music, songs, poetry and stories. These experiences encourage children to become skilful communicators and play a key role in language development. Children are helped to understand that written symbols carry meaning, to be aware of the purposes of writing and when they are ready, experiment with mark making and use drawn and written symbols for themselves.
Problem solving, Reasoning and Numeracy 
Practical activities are provided to support the children’s development in understanding problem solving, reasoning and numeracy in a number of contexts. Children are given sufficient time, space and encouragement to discover, enjoy, learn, practice and talk about their developing mathematical ideas during child initiated activities in their own play. Children are encouraged to explore real life problems and participate in sorting, matching, sequencing, pattern making and counting activities. Children will learn colour, shape and pattern as well as recognition of numbers and understanding of quantity.
Knowledge and understanding of the world 
Planned activities based on first hand experiences, allows the children to explore, experiment, observe, problem solve and make sense of the world around them. Within a safe and stimulating environment, they learn to observe the features of objects, substances and encounter creatures, people and plants, recognising differences, patterns and similarities. Children are also supported in using a range of ICT equipment including tape recorders and programmable toys.
Physical development 
A range of indoor and outdoor equipment allows children the opportunities for them to be active and interactive and improve their skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement. A high level of adult supervision, as well as a variety of challenging equipment and resources, enables the children to safely create and meet physical challenges, developing increasing control in moving, climbing and balancing. We ensure that children are supported in developing an understanding of the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices in relation to food.
Creative development 
We place great emphasis on every child’s individuality and creativity. Children are encouraged to use a wide range of resources in order to express their own ideas and feelings. Creativity emerges as children become absorbed in their own ideas, expressing them through music, movement, making and transforming things using media and materials such as crayons, paints scissors, words, sounds, props and role play. We provide a stimulating environment where creativity, originality and expression are valued.
At St John’s we believe that each child is unique and that children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. Careful consideration is taken to ensure that our learning experiences meet the diverse needs of all the children in our care. Each individual child is encouraged and supported in their personal learning journey to reach their full potential. |
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