What is the Early Years Foundation?

•The EYFS is a framework for children’s development from birth to the end of their first (reception) year in school

•The EYFS Framework describes how early years practitioners should work with children and their families to support their learning and development
•The EYFS describes how your child should be kept safe and cared for and how all concerned can make sure that your child achieves the most that they can in their earliest years of life

The EYFS is based on four important principles

Theme: A Unique Child

Principle: Every child is a competent learner from birth who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

Theme: Positive Relationships
Principle: Children learn to be strong and independent from a base of loving and secure relationships with parents and/or a key person.

Theme: Enabling Environments
Principle: The environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s learning and development.

Theme: Learning and Development
Principle: Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of Learning and Development are equally important and interconnected.

This means that:
•Children learn best through play and first hand experience.
•Early Years staff must provide your child with a range of appropriate play and learning experiences for their stage of development and help them develop new skills.
•The activities that are provided for young children will underpin the skills they need to work towards the Early Learning Goal in the following areas at the end of their reception year at school.
•Communication and language.
•Literacy.

•Physical development.
•Expressive arts and design.
•Knowledge and understanding of the world

•Mathematical development.
•Personal, social and emotional development.

At St Paul’s Nursery the learning environment provides provision both indoors and out.  The children have opportunities to work on a one to one basis and in small and large groups. There is a mixture each day of adult directed and child initiated activities as well as learning focus groups designed to help children to reach their next steps. Children are encouraged to learn through play and first hand experience. Topics and activities are planned around the interests and needs of each child and can change from day to day depending on the children's enthusiasm for a topic.