This is the curriculum for children from birth to age five. At Masefield Primary School, this guides the teaching and learning in our Nursery and Reception classes.
The Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is made up of 4 themes: The Unique Child, Positive Relationships, The Enabling Environment and Learning and development.
These themes are important as they all combine to ensure young children make good, strong progress in their earliest years. This stage in life is the most important as children’s minds and bodies grow and develop most from birth to age five.
Areas of Learning
In Learning and Development, there are seven areas of Learning which the curriculum is organised into to make sure children make all round development in this important stage. These are:
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Communication and Language;
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Physical Development;
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Personal, Social and Emotional Development;
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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.
Children should develop essential skills and knowledge in these areas to ensure that they have the best possible start to their learning journey.
How Children Learn in the EYFS At Masefield Primary School
In our Nursery class, the children learn the skills needed to become strong, confident individuals who are capable of learning and achieving through positive relationships, enabling environments and an understanding that every child is unique.
The children are introduced to new ideas and further thinking through the seven areas of learning.
These skills, experiences and learning opportunities are presented to the children through meaningful play contexts and adult led activities which ensure that each child has the opportunity to play and explore in an active and engaging environment that allows them to be creative, think critically and take risks to achieve more.
In our Nursery class, children spend time within small groups where we teach further communication and social skills through programmes such as Nursery Narrative and WellComm.
Through interactive learning children, follow all the curriculum areas to build up key basic skills in the seven areas of learning. Our Nursery Team very carefully observe children to understand what they can do, how children are learning well and use this information to plan the next steps in their learning. The children’s interests are used to inspire and engage deep learning. Learning takes place indoors and outdoors, in all weathers and teaching can be direct in small or large groups, guided by an adult or sometimes independent in response to a specific task or learning opportunity. These lessons and learning opportunities are planned to ensure children can apply their basic skills confidently and prepare them for their continued learning journey in Reception.
Learning experiences and interests children have outside school are very important, especially those they share with parents and carers. These experiences promote deep learning and hold great value for children as they experience new learning with those they are closest too. To help your child to learn the best they can in Nursery class we really encourage partnership work. Please tell us how your child is learning at home, what they enjoy doing, and any new learning moments they have so we can build upon this in school - you can share any achievements on your child's Seesaw profile! Likewise, we share with you the developments your child makes as they progress through our Nursery class via Seesaw and Stay and Play sessions.
Characteristics of Effective Learning
The EYFS also places a clear focus on the importance of how children learn. These are known as the Characteristics of Effective Learning. Within Nursery we support the children in developing their skills of engagement, motivation and critical thinking. This results in children who are keen to explore, to keep on trying and having their own ideas about how to solve problems.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning link to our whole school policy of developing a ‘Growth Mindset’ where children are encourages to use setbacks and difficulties as motivation. We celebrate effort alongside results and encourage children to accept challenges with a sense of achievement for trying.
