Early Years Education
Purpose of the Early Years Foundation Stage
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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a play-based curriculum for children from birth to five years, which allows children to explore and learn in an environment that is secure and safe, yet challenging.
Within the EYFS Framework their are seven areas of learning: 3 Prime Areas and 4 Specific Areas. When planning and guiding activities practitioners will reflect upon these areas as well as the Characteristics of Effective Learning which are the different ways that children learn. You will notice links to the EYFS and Characteristics of Effective Learning on your child's tapestry profile.
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Prime Areas
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Communication and Language
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Physical Development
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Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Specific Areas
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Literacy
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Mathematics
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Understanding the World
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Expressive Arts and Design
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Research into early child development shows that children learn more rapidly during their first three years than in later life; whilst all areas of learning are important and inter-connected, the three Prime areas that are crucial for igniting children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, building their capacity to learn and form relationships and thrive. The specific areas will enable them to be self-motivated learners who are confident to succeed.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning
Playing and Exploring
Supports children's engagement and investigation and to experience things through being willing to 'have a go'
Active Learning
Supports children's motivation to learn by helping develop their concentration, ability and will to keep trying when challenges occur and celebration of completing a task.
Creating and Thinking Critically
Supports children's thinking skills through developing ideas, making links between differing ideas and create strategies for completing a task.
The EYFS emphasises that parents are a child's primary educator and therefore encourages parents to contribute to their child's learning this is why Tapestry is such a vital tool to ensure together we get an overall picture of each child's development.
Key Person
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Each child who attends Littleleaps has a Key Person.
This is an Early Years Practitioner within the child's room who's role is to ensure every child's learning and care is tailored to their individual needs. They will support the child and their parents with the settling in process, and with the child's developmental progress.
Tapestry
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Tapestry is an online learning journal that practitioners use to record and monitor your child learning and development. Parents can also upload new achievements and special events onto their own child journal allowing these moments to be shared between home and setting. Tapestry can be used as a communication tool to strengthen our relationships with parents.