We are the Foundations (and the EYFS!)
We are the Foundations..
The EYFS will become mandatory from September 2008 for all schools and early years providers in Ofsted registered settings - that is from birth to the end of the primary school reception.
The Background!
- The Early Years Foundation Stage - is a central part of the ten year childcare strategy:
- Ensuring a consistent approach to care and learning from birth to the end of the Foundation Stage
- Incorporating elements of the National Standards
- Has a play based approach
- Focuses on stages of development rather than chronological, age based teaching and learning
The overarching aim of the EYFS is to help children achieve the Every Child Matters five outcomes, which are:
- Staying Safe
- Being Healthy
- Enjoying and Achieving
- Making a positive contributio
- Achieving economic well being
There are Principles which are grouped into 4 themes - These four themes will be embedded into our policies and practice to make sure that staff and Wonderland are consistently striving to achieve the best for the child and their families -
- A Unique Child - Stating that every child is a competent learner who is resilient, capable and confident
- Enabling Environments - Stating that the environment plays a key role in supporting and developing children?s development and learning
- Positive Relationships - Stating that children learn from a strong, loving unit with the working relationships of a key person and parent(s)
- Learning and Development - Stating that all children learn and achieve at different rates and we are to acknowledge this and provide for.
How we at Wonderland plan for the EYFS
At Wonderland we have an Educational Coordinator who works closely with the age groups making sure that planning and learning is achievable and working in connection with one another. We follow the six area of learning which are
PSE - Personal, Social and Emotional
KUW - Knowledge and Understanding of the World
CLL - Communication, Language and Literacy
PSRN - Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy
PD - Physical Development
CD - Creative Development
This plays a 'base' for our planning - but it is important to state that planning is a working document and one that will be changed depending on the Childs needs and interests.
All plans are posted on the Planning board on a Monday morning for parents to have a look at.
We have always promoted a key person at Wonderland and the EYFS have now made it mandatory that all settings have these important members.
A record of names is located in the main entrance of what member of staff has what child. A key person has special responsibilities for working with a child making them feel confident and reassured and able to form that special bond with not just the child but the parent(s) also. This person would be the first port of call for any issues you as parents would have.
As Manager, I believe it is important that staff have time out to complete monthly observations and spend time developing and adding to the individual learning journeys - Portfolios.
Portfolios are folders which embed the EYFS and the journey from when the child starts nursery to the time they move onto school. In these portfolios the key person would keep reports, monthly observations, moving up to the next age group letters and three monthly information packs. Portfolios are used as a tool to help support learning and the areas of interest that a child seeks. The key person actively encourages parent(s) to take these portfolios home and add any information they think is required.
If you have any queries or questions on anything to do with the EYFS and planning please do not hesitate to contact us.
We look forward in sharing your journey at Wonderland.