Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) British Curriculum
- Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances.
- A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.
- There are seven areas of learning and development that shape the EYFS curriculum at Kinder Castle Nursery. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
Prime Areas
These three areas, the prime areas, are:
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- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Personal, social and emotional development
Specific Areas
These three areas, the prime areas, are:
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- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Expressive arts and design
Physical Development
Involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children are helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Communication and language development
Involves giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand.
Literacy Development
Involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Mathematics
Involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure.
Understanding the World
Involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Expressive arts and design
Involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.
- Kinder Castle Nursery considers the individual needs, interest and stage of development of each child in our care. We use this information to plan a challenging and enjoyable experience for each child in all the areas of learning and development.
- It is important that learning takes place throughout a child’s whole life; even from birth. Staff who work with the youngest of the children in the nursery, focus strongly on the three prime areas which are the basis for successful learning in the other four specific areas.
- Each area of learning and development is implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities. We strongly believe that play is essential for children’s development to build their confidence as they learn to explore; to think about problems and to relate to others. Children learn by leading their own play, and by taking part in play which is guided by adults which is the balance that we offer at Kinder Castle Nursery.
