Children’s development and Learning

The provision for children’s development and learning is based on The Early Years Foundation stage. This is a framework the staff follow to aid in the development of children through play whilst recognising that they are all unique and learn at different rates.

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Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

 

Childs Development and Learning

The provision for children's development and learning is supported and guided by Development Matters in The EYFS framework 2014.

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The 4 guiding principles of the EYFS are:

 

1. Every child is a unique child learning to be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
    

2. Children learn to be strong and independant through positive relationships.
    

3. Children learn and develop well in enabling environments responding to individual needs and where there is strong partnership between parents/carers and practitioners.
    

4. Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates. This covers the education and care of all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities.

 

For each area, the practice guidance sets out the stages to work towards and cover and the
Early Learning Goals to reach, which is where the children are expected to be by the end of their Reception Year.

 

Learning through Play

Play helps young children to learn and develop through doing and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think. Our setting uses the practice guidance Early Years Foundation Stage to plan and provide a range of play activities which help children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development. In some of these activities children decide how they will use the activity whilst some are teacher led.

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How we provide for development and learning

Children start to learn about the world around them from the moment they are born. The care and education offered by our setting helps children to continue to do this by providing all of the children with interesting activities that are appropriate for their age and stage of development.

 

The Areas of Development and Learning comprise of 3 prime areas:

1. Personal, social and emotional development

2. Physical development

3. Communication and language

 

There are also 4 specific areas, which we then introduce:

1. Literacy

2. Mathematics

3. Understanding the World

4. Expressive Arts & Design

 

For each area, the practice guidance sets out the stages to work towards and cover and the
Early Learning Goals to reach, which is where the children are expected to be by the end of their reception year.

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Assessment Arrangements

Each child has a learning journal, which records their progress and development. This is shown regularly to parents, who are asked to contribute to it. Staff also use tracker forms to measure individual progress and help them to identify next steps for each child.