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The Early Years Foundation Stage

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The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) areas of learning and development have been updated and were published by the government in 2020. These areas of learning are used when observing, assessing and planning for a child’s individual needs.

There are seven areas of learning, which have sub sections to focus learning. The seven areas are also split into two areas, Prime Areas and Specific Areas.

  1. The three prime areas- which are for all children and provide the solid foundations for accessing other areas of learning.
  2. The four specific areas- which build use and build upon the three prime areas to facilitate and extend learning.

Personal Social and Emotional Development

We support children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships, develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings through providing activities that stimulate team work, reflectiveness and creativity.
  • Self- Regulation
  • Managing Self
  • Building Relationships

Physical Development

Young children develop control and co-ordination by being active through play, we regularly use our outdoor spaces including the woodland and trim trail to develop larger movements and malleable play for fine motor skills. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices.
  • Gross Motor Skills
  • Fine Motor Skills

Communication and Language Development

At East Hoathly Nursery we give children opportunities to develop their communication skills by being in an environment that is rich in language, encourages discussion and develops children’s abilities to listen, understand and speak with confidence.
  • Listening
  • Understanding
  • Speaking

Literacy

We encourage children to be aware of sounds, learning to link written letters to spoken sounds in preparation for writing.  We provide a wide range of reading materials to ignite interest and use stories to stimulate activities.
  • Word Reading
  • Comprehension
  • Writing

Mathematics

We provide practical, fun and interest centred opportunities to develop and improve children’s skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, and simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe space, shapes and measures.
  • Numbers
  • Numerical Patterns

Understanding the World

Staff guide 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.
  • People, Cultures and Communities
  • The World
  • Past and Present

Expressive Arts and Design

We encourage children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials to creatively express their thoughts and feelings in art, music, movement, dance, role play and design and technology.
  • Creating with Materials
  • Being Imaginative and Expressive