Early Years Foundation Stage at Denfield Park

At Denfield Park Primary the Nursery and Reception classes follow the framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through seven areas of learning and development.

The 3 prime areas are Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design.

These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The Teachers and support staff teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs

The following four themes (highlighted in bold) and principles (highlighted in italics) of the EYFS underpin all the guidance:

Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self- assured.  Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships. 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. Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of learning and development.

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. In planning and guiding children’s activities, we reflect on the different ways that children learn and reflect these in our practice. Each area of learning and development will be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mixture of adult- led and child- initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and to relate to others. Practitioners will respond to each child’s emerging needs and interests, guiding their development through warm positive interaction. The stages children progress through, in line with the EYFS curriculum, identify the knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that the children will need if they are to achieve the ‘Early Learning Goals’ by the end of the EYFS.

At Denfield children’s progress is recorded through the use of carefully planned activities, observations and photographic evidence. These are collated into an individual 'Learning Journal' for each child and regularly shared with parents throughout their time in Nursery and/or Reception. This includes achievements from home as well as at school.

All Reception pupils complete the Reception Baseline Assessment on entry. This supports our understanding of the pupils knowledge and skills when they first start Reception. Progress is then made from these starting points. In the final term of Reception, each child’s level of development is assessed against the Early Learning Goals. Practitioners must indicate whether children are meeting expected levels of development.

If you have any questions please speak with your child's teacher or the EYFS leader.

EYFS Leader - Miss Humphreys

shumphreys@denfieldpark.northants.sch.uk