Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework is a government document that all Ofsted-registered early years providers and Schools in England must follow. It sets standards for the learning, development and care of your child from birth to 5 years old. The standards ensure your child will learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) has been reformed and there is a new EYFS framework that all schools and settings are now following as of September 2021. These national changes have been made to better support all young children’s learning and development.
There are some elements of the EYFS that have not significantly changed and some that have. Below are some of the key points from the new EYFS reforms that include relevant changes which parents, carers and children may notice or experience.
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Staff will be spending less time on large amounts of written observations and assessments for evidence. This means they can spend more time supporting and engaging with the children and their learning and development needs.
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Children will no longer be assessed against statements from an age band e.g. (40-60months). Instead, staff will use their experience and knowledge to monitor if a child’s learning and development is on track for their age.
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There is an emphasis on improving children’s language and vocabulary through increasing opportunities for conversations, reading of a wide range of books and holding discussions.
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Safeguarding and welfare of children is still a priority, with the added mention of teaching children about the importance of good oral health and how to keep teeth clean and healthy.
What Will My Child Be Learning?
The EYFS framework outlines seven areas of learning and development and educational programmes. There are three prime areas of learning, which are particularly important for your child’s development and future learning:
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Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED).
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Physical Development.
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Communication and Language.
There are four specific areas of learning, through which the prime areas are strengthened and applied:
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Understanding the World
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Expressive Arts and Design
Early years practitioners at Puffin Pre-School use your child’s interests to take an holistic approach with them to implement challenging and enjoyable activities and experiences which extend and aid learning in all of these areas.
How Will My Child Be Learning?
The EYFS framework identifies the essential role of play in your child’s development. It is through both child-led play and play guided by an adult that your child will develop confidence and relationships with others. Through play and modelling exceptional language EYFS practitioners will help your child to extend their vocabulary and develop their communication skills. Our goal is to prepare your child with the skills that they need to support them in their next stage in life - School.
The EYFS framework identifies three characteristics of effective teaching and learning:
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playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’;
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active learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements; and
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creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
Puffin's Curriculum Design Statement
From language and literacy development to social skills and creative expression, the children at Puffin preschool are constantly being exposed to new activities and environments in which to thrive. We build on the strengths and interests of each child to help build a solid foundation where they can develop their futures.
These 7 areas are the basis for our curriculum. Careful thought is given to inform our enabling environments (indoors and outdoors), to provide resources, activities and learning opportunities to meet each child’s unique requirements. Ofsted call this ‘curriculum’. Our curriculum is very flexible and responsive to follow children’s interests and allow 'in the moment planning' which allows practitioners to extend learning opportunities within the activity that a child is engaged in. We also make the most of unplanned opportunities such as 'unexpected snowfall' or 'taking a trip to the shops to get parcel tape to build castles from carboard boxes'.
Young children learn through play.
Monitoring and recording your child's development
Every child has a online Tapestry account that you can log into, to see daily updates on what the children have been up to that day, We use tapestry to record your child's WOW moments through short written observations and photos. You also have the ability to upload moments of your child to share with us, this is a brilliant opportunity to encourage language development through meaningful conversations with your child whilst we look at the pictures you have shared of them. Every child has a scrap book to proudly collect and display their work in throughout their time at Puffins.
We use our professional judgements to assess your child’s development during our daily interactions, observations and activities. The progress check at 2 years is a mandatory assessment point and we will still share your child’s development and progress with you.
Your child’s Key Person will continue to assess your child throughout the time they are in preschool. Updates will be given to you at the end of every term and any concerns will be raised with you as they are identified, this will allow us to work with you to overcome these. We update tapestry daily so that you can see what your children have been up to and we have an open door policy which enables you to speak to your child's key worker, share any concerns your may have and get an update on your child's development whenever you want.