Sudley Infant School Parents’ guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage A Doyle J Morris S O’Rourke

This talk will outline the different areas of learning in the Foundation Stage curriculum as well as suggesting some ideas for you to help your child at home. MOST IMPORTANTLY YOU SHOULD HAVE FUN AND PLAY TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!! If you have any questions do not hesitate to ask.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage? The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) 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.

The EYFS has 4 themes. These are: 1. A Unique Child 2. Positive Relationships 3. Enabling Environments 4. Learning and Developing

Within the theme of Learning and Developing there are 7 areas. All areas are connected to one another. Communication and language Physical development Personal, social and emotional development Literacy Mathematics Understanding the world Expressive arts and design

Learning through play Children are active learners Tell me and I’ll forget. Show me and I’ll remember. Let me do and I’ll understand.

Communication and Language

This area of learning relates to how your child: Listens attentively in different situations Follow instructions Answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions Express themselves effectively Activities at home Encourage your child to listen carefully Ask you child questions Encourage your child answer in sentences Give your child instructions to follow involving several ideas or actions

Physical Development

This area of learning relates to how your child: Moves using large and small scale movements; running, jumping, climbing Move confidently and safely negotiates space Handle tools and equipment effectively including pencils for writing Healthy lifestyle Activities at home Take a trip to the park so your child can run, jump and climb Feeling messy! Make some play dough! Encourage your child to hold scissors correctly Snip and cut paper Take a pot of water and a paintbrush outside so your child can ‘paint’ the pavement, fence or shed Encourage your child to use a pencil correctly –colour, trace over lines

Personal, Social, Emotional Development

Personal, social and emotional development This area of learning relates to how your child: Develops their confidence Talks about how they and others are feeling Talks about their own and others behaviour and the consequences Know some behaviour is unacceptable Work as part of a group following the rules Play co-operatively taking turns with others Show sensitivity to others - needs and feelings Form positive relationship with peers and adults Activities at home Play games to encourage sharing and taking turns Praise your child when they try something new Talk about how things make both you and your child feel When your child does something they shouldn’t encourage them to think about what they did and why it was wrong

Literacy

This area of learning relates to how your child: Uses phonic knowledge to sound out simple words Read common irregular words ‘tricky words’ Demonstrates an understanding of what they have read Reads and understands simple sentences Uses phonic knowledge to write words Write some ‘tricky words’ Write simple sentences Activities at home Encourage your child to sound out words when reading Play games e.g. lotto when learning key words Read with your child Encourage your child to talk about what they have read – re- tell the story in their own words Ask your child questions about what they have read Praise your child for ‘having a go’ and using their phonic knowledge to spell words Encourage your child to ‘write’ e.g. shopping lists, cards, party lists.

Phonics and Reading There are lots of opportunities each day for speaking and listening and developing vocabulary. Phonics (the teaching of letter sounds) is taught daily throughout the foundation stage. Blending begins as soon as 4/5 letter sounds are known. Reading and writing is connected to the phonics teaching. This will reinforce learning and enable the children to recognise the connections between the 2 processes. High Frequency Words are taught daily. Reading books are sent home to promote interest and discussion. Initially they will be books without words. Story-telling and re-telling is vital to promote vocabulary extension and interest in books.

Maths

This area of learning relates to how your child: Recognises numerals Counts reliably Is comfortable with numbers and with ideas such as ‘fewer’, ‘more’, 1 less and 1 more and counting on and back Develops an understanding of maths through stories, songs, games and imaginative play Explores patterns and shapes Activities at home Play board games like snakes and ladders to practise counting Make a game – sock sorting after doing the washing. Talk about the patterns you can see. Ask your child to solve mathematical problems e.g. I only have 2 apples but there are 4 or us. What shall we do? Sing some number rhymes e.g. 1,2,3,4,5 once I caught a fish alive.

Understanding the world

This area of learning relates to how your child: Explores the world around them e.g. places, objects, materials and living things. Can recognise a range of technology used in school and at home Develops awareness of their own and other cultures Talks about past and present events in their own other family Activities at home Talk to your child about your family, culture, religion, where you live. Talk about what you can see, hear, smell, taste and touch. Ask your child what buttons they think you should press and why when using electrical equipment. Look for similarities and differences in the environment.

Expressive arts and design

This area of learning relates to how your child: Safely uses and explores a variety of materials, tools and techniques Sing songs and participates in musical and dance activities Uses different media and materials in an original way, thinking about uses and purposes. Represents their own ideas. Role play things they have seen and experienced. Activities at home Play role play games with your child, play teachers, shop, be happy to be a passenger on a train. Use junk materials to make models big or small scale– you’ll be surprised what your child will turn it into. Listen to and talk about sounds, make different sounds, quiet, loud etc. Keep your old clothes, shoes, hats, gloves to make into an exciting box of dressing up clothes.

Monitoring Progress Each of the 7 areas of learning has its own set of Early Learning Goals which determine what most children are expected to achieve by the end of the Reception Class. We will be tracking your child’s progress towards the early learning goals throughout their time in the reception class

And finally Please make sure your child has their reading book in school everyday Read with your child every night/ morning Use the flashcards sent home they really work! Please, please label all clothing including coats Any concerns please mention to the class teacher however small