Learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Intent
Why do we teach what we teach?
In EYFS at Chigwell Primary Academy we aim to provide an environment that is safe, fun, happy and inspiring for our children and one that supports them to achieve their full potential as individuals. At CPA we recognise that each child is unique and we embrace this. We encourage through ‘our school values of respect, resilience and responsibility to help build a strong foundation for their future learning. Building parent/teacher relationships is very important to us as we know that this hugely benefits the child in the early stages of their education.
We believe that high level engagement ensures high level attainment. We therefore provide an engaging curriculum that maximises opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and learning experiences. Learning is carefully planned by the teachers to support the EYFS prime areas - Communication and Language; Personal, Social and Emotional Development; and Physical Development as well as the specific areas - Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design, through the use of the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning (CoETL).
Prime Areas
Specific Areas
Our overall aim is to fully prepare our children with the skills, curiosity and knowledge needed for the next stage of their learning journey in KS1. We know that what and how our children learn in these first years of education shape them as learners for the rest of their school life and beyond, therefore nurturing and enhancing children’s early education is the best investment we can make in ensuring their future happiness and success.
Implementation
How do we teach what we teach?
Our curriculum: We follow the statutory framework for the EYFS 2023. Our curriculum is broad and balanced and builds upon the children’s prior knowledge. Each half term our topic is changed to provide inspiration for learning. Children experience the seven areas of learning through a balance of whole class/group teaching and indoor/outdoor play based learning. This is through topics, continuous provision activities and phonics.
Through a blended approach of continuous provision and adult led activities, children are able to gain both independence and confidence within their learning. We ensure that resources are added to/changed regularly and that the children have a good understanding of how to use the resources appropriately and independently. The EYFS lead oversees the teaching and learning to monitor standards and ensure that the quality of teaching and learning is at least good or better.
The children are free to move between the indoor and outdoor learning environments as they wish and are encouraged to participate in meaningful learning experiences expanding on their previous knowledge.
Working with parents: We strive to have good working relationships with our parents. We engage with them via Tapestry which includes messages and photos as well as providing observations about their child’s learning. We encourage parents to attend workshops, assemblies and parent conferences to learn, discuss and see their child’s learning and development over the year.
Outside Learning Area: We aim to develop an effective and engaging environment that is set up so that pupils can access all areas of learning both inside and outside at any one time. We are developing the use of the outside area to ensure that learning opportunities outside are maximised.
We endeavour that the children access and make good progress across the EYFS curriculum and reach Early Learning Goals by the end of the year. The children will develop knowledge and skills equally in all seven areas. This will be evidenced in children’s writing and maths books, learning journey folders and Tapestry observations. Having links with the local community and accessing important experiences allows the children to access, take pride and create positive relationships with adults in the community.
Through the use of our carefully planned curriculum, children are happy and develop a positive attitude towards learning. The Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning are developed and encouraged in a range of situations, readying the children for KS1.
At CPA we want our children to have the best start to their education. Our aim is that by the end of EYFS, the children are starting to become successful, independent and resilient learners ready for KS1 and the National Curriculum.