1. What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?
The Early Years Foundation Stage (E.Y.F.S.) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year.
It is based on the recognition that children learn best through play and active learning.

2. The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.
Playing and exploring - finding out and exploring
- playing with what they know
- being willing to have a go
Active learning being involved and concentrating
- keeping trying
- enjoying achieving what they set out to do
Creating and thinking - having their own ideas
critically - making links
- choosing ways to do things

3. Expressive Arts and Design
Within the Reception curriculum there are 7 areas of learning. Three of these are Prime areas which underpin all aspects of learning. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Communication and Language Physical Development Specific areas of learning Literacy Mathematics Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design

4. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The children will be learning to:
become self-confident;
take an interest in things;
know what their own needs are;
play co-operatively, taking turns;
become independent;
know the difference between right and wrong.

5. Communication and Language
The children will be learning to:
talk confidently and clearly;
enjoy listening to stories, songs and poems and respond to them;
.show awareness of listeners needs;
Introduce storylines or narratives in their play.

6. Physical Development The children will be learning to:
move confidently;
control their body;
handle tools, objects, construction and malleable materials safely;
use a pencil and hold it effectively to form recognisable letters;
know how to stay healthy and safe;
dress themselves and manage own hygiene

7. Specific areas of learning
Literacy
hear and say sounds, and link them to the alphabet;
read and write familiar words;
write simple sentences;
learn to form letters correctly.
Phonics teaching using Read, Write, Inc

8. Mathematics The children will be learning to:
develop an understanding of numbers through stories, songs, games and imaginative play;
Place numbers to 20 in order, add/subtract, solve problems;
Use language to talk about weight, size, capacity, time, distance, position and money;
be aware of patterns, shapes and space.

9. Understanding the World
The children will:
explore and find out about the world around them, asking questions about it;
know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for;
find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives;
find out about different communities and traditions

10. Expressive arts and design
The children will explore:
colours, shapes, design, texture;
how to make things;
materials, tools and techniques;
role play;
making music.

11. Daily routine Children can come into school from 8.50am
The school day starts at 9.00am
Children will be introduced into Assembly before the end of Term 1
Lunchtime 12.00pm – 1:00pm
Snack time 10.30am – 10.45am
Playtime 10.45am – 11.00am and 2:05pm – 2:20pm
Home time 3:25pm

12. Reading Shared reading Guided reading
Individual reading - children will be given a book to take home before October half term. These are changed twice a week. Please write a comment in the reading diary after you have heard your child read.
Sound books – please practise all of the sounds with your child and ensure their sound book is in their book bags every day.

13. Letter formation – taught through phonic sessions
Writing
In Term 1, emphasis is placed upon;
holding pencil correctly
forming letters correctly - chalking outside, damp sand, tracing over laminated sheets etc.
writing first name correctly.
This progresses onto writing simple words and simple sentences.
Letter formation – taught through phonic sessions

14. Assessment
In the Foundation Stage, assessment is carried out through spontaneous and focused observations and adult led activities.
Photographs are also taken as a record of the children completing various activities.

15. General Information Free milk is available for children under 5 years.
Water bottles – named please.
Lunchtime is at 12.20pm-1.20pm. The children have their sandwiches or hot meals in the hall.

16. Parents always welcome to come and see me any time with any queries or concerns. Please let us know if anything is bothering your child.
Please could your child bring their book bag each day - letters put in etc.

17. Clothes clearly labelled and especially P.E. kit
Parent/Teacher meetings will be held in October and March.
Children are never sent out at the end of the school day unless I can see who is picking them up.