The Early Years Curriculum is based on the statutory ‘Early Years Foundation Stage’ or EYFS. This is a statutory framework which outlines principles for care and education for children 0-5 years. We have integrated the principles and framework from the EYFS into our daily practise to provide the highest quality play and learning experiences for our children.
Characteristics of Effective learning
What children learn is important, but how children learn is even more important if they are to become learners for life. The EYFS highlights key characteristics of effective learning:
- Playing and exploring (finding out, exploring, playing with what they know and being willing to have a go)
- Active learning (being involved and concentrating, keeping on trying, enjoying achieving what they set out to do)
- Creating and thinking critically (having own ideas, making links in learning, choosing ways to do things)
These characteristics are developed through three prime areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language.
A further four specific areas grow out of these prime areas, developing children’s skills and knowledge further. These are: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design.