Early Years Foundation Stage
Please select from one of our year groups below to learn more about our curriculum or read on to discover our EYFS offer at Hatfeild Primary.
Hatfeild Primary School EYFS Curriculum Intent Statement:
At Hatfeild Primary School, we believe that the early Years Foundation Stage is crucial in securing solid foundations, in partnership with parents, that children are going to continue to build upon throughout their lives. It is our intent that the children who enter our EYFS develop physically, verbally, cognitively, emotionally and morally whilst embedding a positive attitude to school and learning. We believe that all children deserve to be valued as an individual and we are passionate in facilitating all children to achieve their full and unique potential. With all of this in mind, we begin each new academic year by observing the individual needs of our children and taking into account their different starting points, we then carefully adapt and develop our flexible EYFS curriculum which enables them to follow the path of their learning journey, at a point that is suitable for their needs and stage of development.
Children in both our Nursery and Reception classes follow the statutory EYFS curriculum, which has seven areas of learning;
The Three Prime Areas of:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
Underpins the Four Specific Areas of:
-
Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
The vocabulary, skills, knowledge and concepts in each area are taught in a purposeful, practical, playful and challenging way from experienced practitioners in whole class, small group and 1:1 sessions. There is a combination of adult-directed, adult initiated and child initiated learning which is facilitated through a combination of directly taught lessons and the stimulating and challenging continuous provision opportunities. This approach enables the children to learn, apply and consolidate their new learning. At the heart of our curriculum are the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ of ‘Playing and Learning, ‘Active’ Learning’ and ‘Thinking Critically’. We strive to develop these characteristics in order to give the children the life skills they will continue to draw upon throughout their lives in an ever changing world. All of the crucial vocabulary, skills, knowledge that we teach are presented to the children throughout the year through a range of topics which encompass their interests and ‘voice’.
Our learning environments, both inside and outside are adapted regularly to meet the different and developing needs of the children in our care. We strive to ensure these areas are always stimulating and exciting and that, importantly, are accessible to all children, regardless of where they are on their learning journey. The environments are developed to promote independence and confidence within our children and enable them to enable them to successfully access the curriculum with the necessary level of support and challenge.
Within our EYFS curriculum the children are assessed through significant, objective and accurate observations. This provides us with the information we need to plan their next steps for successful future learning and ensure they make outstanding progress.
Our EYFS team strongly believe that igniting the flame for learning and the development of secure, confident, resilient life-long learners is imperative in transforming the lives and communities of the future.
The Characteristics of Effective Learning
characteristics of effective learnign.pdf
How we help children to learn effectively
early years pedagogy at hatfeild primary school.pdf
What to Expect When, DfE 2018