Intent

We ensure that EYFS outcomes are useful to pupils in terms of basic skills development, particularly in the areas of behaviour, reading, writing and maths. On leaving Reception class it is important that all pupils are well prepared for the next stage of their education in Year 1.

The whole of the EYFS curriculum is in place throughout Reception.  We use the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage which sets the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five.

Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage (publishing.service.gov.uk)

 

Implementation

Teachers regularly deploy three different styles of teaching in order to give pupils a variety of learning experiences, both teacher initiated and pupil initiated over the course of a week.

1. Teacher initiated learning

Small group reading, writing and maths: children work in small groups to learn new skills in reading, writing and maths under the direct instruction of an adult.

The whole class also works together to learn new skills in phonics, understanding the world and R.E. Children then work in small groups to practise these skills under the direct instruction of an adult.

2. Mixture of teacher initiated and pupil initiated learning

Choosing activities: these are activities initiated by teachers but chosen and extended by children. They can select from a variety of activities that the teachers have placed around the class, covering the majority of the curriculum. They select the activities they wish to take part in and the order in which they wish to complete them. There is often the opportunity to adjust the activity to follow children’s curiosity and imagination. Adults facilitate children's learning in order to maximise outcomes.

3. Child initiated learning

These activities start with the children themselves. Through direct observation and discussion, an adult will help a child to explore an area of interest to them and create an outcome of value, practising many useful skills.

 

What does Ofsted say? (taken from 2016 Ofsted EYFS training document)

Teaching involves ‘interactions’ with children during adult planned and child initiated activities.

What should we see adults doing?

·         Communicating and modelling language

·         Providing a narrative for what the children are doing

·         Setting challenges

·         Exploring ideas

·         Demonstrating

·         Sharing

·         Explaining

·         Encouraging

·         Recalling

·         Facilitating

·         Questioning

 

Integral to teaching is how staff:

·         Assess what the children know, understand and can do

·         Take account of their interests and dispositions to learn

·         Use this information to plan children’s next steps in learning

·         Monitor their progress

 

The EYFS curriculum

The EYFS curriculum is based on the national Statutory Framework for EYFS.  The curriculum is structured around:

 

Three prime areas of learning	Aspects
Communication and Language	listening & attention understanding speaking
Physical Development	moving and handling health and self-care
Personal, Social and Emotional Development	making relationships sense of self understanding feelings
Four specific areas of learning	Aspects
Literacy	reading writing
Mathematics	mathematics
Understanding the World	people and communities the world technology
Expressive Arts and Design	creating with materials being imaginative and expressive
Three characteristics of effective learning
Playing and exploring	finding out and exploring playing with what they know being willing to ‘have a go’
Active learning	being involved and concentrating keep trying enjoying achieving what they set out to do
Creating and thinking critically	having their own ideas making links working with ideas

 

Impact

• The government does not prescribe how assessment on entry and on-going assessment should be undertaken in the EYFS.
• Children’s attainment on entry is assessed over the first half of the autumn term and reported to the senior leadership team just before the October half term.
• EYFS Profile statements summarise children’s attainment at the end of EYFS. It is based on continuous observation and assessment in the three prime areas of learning, four specific areas of learning and the three characteristics of effective learning set out below.