Foundation stage curriculum

At Greenlands we follow the Early Years Statutory Framework. This framework specifies the requirement for learning and development in the Early Years and provides prime and specific areas of learning we must cover in the curriculum.

The four overriding principles which our early years’ education is based upon are as follows:

Unique Child	Every child is unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self assured
Positive Relationships	Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
Enabling	Environments Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers.
Learning and Development	Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years in our curriculum.

The curriculum provides a play based, experimental learning environment, combined with focussed teaching and basic skills, to ensure children make rapid progress before moving onto Year 1. The children in Reception are provided with ample opportunities accessible in out indoor and outdoor provision.

They engage in planned, focussed activities as well as self initiated and free flow activities. The learning experience within our Early Years are linked to the seven areas of learning and development within the EYFS. These areas are split into three prime areas and four specific areas. The three prime areas as those which children should develop first and are considered essential for the healthy development and future learning of our children. These include:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development Involves providing opportunities for young children t be active and interactive; and to develop their coordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Involves providing opportunities for young children t be active and interactive; and to develop their coordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Communication &

Language

Involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Physical Development

Involves helping children develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

As children grow and make progress in the prime areas; this will help them to naturally develop skills within the four specific areas. These are:

Literacy	The early teaching of literacy involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Mathematics	The early teaching of Mathematics involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction and describing shapes, spaces and measures.
Understanding the World	This involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Expressive Arts and Design	This involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.