Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage looks at each individual child as they develop. It recognises that all learning begins at birth and its overarching aim is to give young children the best possible start in life. Every child will be observed and it is through these observations that we can plan activities and experiences for them.
The Four Themes and Principles are as follows:
- Theme: A Unique Child
Principle: Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
- Theme: Positive Relationships
Principle: Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person
- Theme: Enabling Environments
Principle: The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending childrens development and learning
- Theme: Learning and Development
Principle: Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of learning and devlopment are equally important and inter-connected.
The six early learning goals are as follows
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communivation, Language and Literacy
- Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Creative Development
- Physical Development
Each individual child has a 'Development Matter File', where a collection of their unique observations and development needs are recorded and monitored.