Educational Goals

The following page will hopefully explain what the Early Years Foundation Stage is and how we deliver it to your child.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?

All schools and early years providers have to follow a structure of learning, development and care for children from birth to five years old. This is called the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and it enables your child to learn through a range of activities.

The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning and development

Prime Areas

  1. Personal, Social and Emotional development
  2. Communication and Language
  3. Physical development

Specific Areas

  1. Literacy
  2. Mathematics
  3. Understanding the World
  4. Expressive Arts and Design

What does the Early Years Foundation Stage do?

EYFS ensures:

  • Children learn through play
  • Providers work closely with parents
  • You are kept up to date on your child's progress
  • The welfare, learning and all-round development of children with different backgrounds and levels of ability, including those with support needs

How do we use this?

By using observations these areas of learning are carefully planned for your individual child. By incorporating your child's interest into activities that are both adult led and child-initiated we provide a well balanced approach to your child's development.

Each area of learning has a set of goals and by the end of the foundation stage most children are expected to be working towards or have already reached these goals.

Children will be at different stages as they progress towards these goals depending on their age and stage of development. With careful planning, observation, reviews, training and appropriate input from parents and specialised childcare staff we can make sure that individual needs are catered for.

Planning

Well-planned play is a key way in which young children learn with enjoyment and challenge. We provide many activities and experiences so that children can explore the world around them and learn through their play. Most of the time the children have no idea they are learning, they are simply 'having fun'! If a child is happy in their environment then they will learn.

Key Workers

When your child starts Nursery they will be allocated to a member of staff who they naturally gravitate towards, this person will become their Keyworker.

Learning Journals

Every child in the Nursery has their own learning journal which tracks their development from their first to last day at Tiny Tigers. Observations, photographs and other relevant information is recorded in this journal which is handed on to their school and is continued to the end of Reception. This gives continuity and ensures that development is consistent. We use online 'Tapestry' journals and you will have a secure account to enable you to access your child's development at any time.

Parents role

Your role in your child's development is very important and we try our best to share information about your child's interests, strengths and needs. We can then plan experiences and activities that will capture their interests and fire their imagination and enthusiasm. Through open evenings, parents evenings, informal discussions and sharing the 2 year Progress Check we can work together to ensure your children receive the best possible early year's education.

At Tiny Tigers the skills learnt from the Early Learning Goals can be taught across every activity in the nursery, and by the end of the early year foundation stage your child would have covered the following:-

Personal, Social, Emotional and Development

During my time at Tiny Tigers your child will be developing their confidence and self-esteem, ability to be assertive and stand up for their own rights or ask for adult support They will be learning about relationships with both adults and children, making particular friendships and learning to share, to take turns and to negotiate with others.

They will begin to understand rules, to empathise with others and to learn about differences they may see in cultures, religion or language. They will develop the ability to express their feelings, to control them where appropriate and to express any anxieties to others. They will develop my their independence in looking after themselves and their things, choosing what they would like to do, finding what they need, planning their time, thinking of and acting on their own ideas and asking for help if needed. They will be able to take responsibility for tidying up, helping other children, taking messages and carrying out a task. They will learn to be pleased with and be proud of what they can do.

Communication and Language

Your child will be able to talk about what they want and how they feel and will have opportunities to express this through role play. They will be able to enjoy stories, poems, songs and rhymes, and will develop the ability to use language to describe past and present experiences and a sequence of events They will develop their ability to question experiences and events and supply logical explanations or predict what might happen next They will have the chance to talk imaginatively and retell stories in their own words. They will learn to speak to others in small and large groups and share their ideas and thoughts with them. They will learn to listen to others and ask interesting and appropriate questions.

They will learn to follow a set of instructions and be able to answer 'how' and 'why' questions about my experiences.

Physical Development

There will be lots of time for your child to play and learn inside and outside the nursery. They will get the chance to become good at moving, climbing, controlling and coordinating as they play. They will have fun with their friends and teachers learning to use their body, feet and hands with more and more skill. They will get to use lots of outdoor toys to ride on, throw, catch, climb on and build with and will be able to chase, race, jump, balance, play on their own and begin to play with a partner or a group or team.

When they are busy and active they will be able to feel the changes that take place in their body. They will be able to find out and talk about what helps to keep them fit and healthy and what food is good for them. They will learn to get put their coat on or fasten their shoes so that they can look after themselves.

They will use lots of tools for drawing, painting, cutting, sewing, cooking, joining and dismantling as well as other equipment for building, threading, dressing dolls, creating tents, dens and structures and playing sport.

Literacy

Through handling books and sharing them with others, your child will recognise that words tell stories and that the words they see in the world around them tell people something. They will get the chance to see letters and words written down and to try and write them themselves and use them when they play. They will learn the alphabetical sounds and through a mixture of speaking and listening will start to hear the different sounds that make up a word. They will apply this knowledge when looking at words in books and will begin to read and write sentences and captions. To support their learning they will have access to multisensory story sacks, matching word and picture games, bingo games and will have frequent opportunities to use the computer. They will have the chance to read on their own, with the support of an adult. They will have fun using words to talk, read and write.

Understanding the world

Having plenty of time indoors and out your child will be able to look at and talk about objects, materials, living creatures and plant life, noticing lots of details and things that are the same or different. They will be able to take part in explorations and investigations at all different times of the year in the classroom and in the outdoor environment giving them the chance to notice changes as time passes. They will have the chance to make predictions, try things out and come to some conclusions and even give some reasons as to why they think things happen. They can share these discoveries with friends and sometimes will record what they see and find out by drawing, writing or using a camera or computer.

They can also find out about things they use every day in the home and at school as well as places and buildings in the area where they live.

They will be able to talk about special moments and events they have shared with family and things they are looking forward to. They will begin to know more about different people and their cultures, traditions and places in the community.

Expressive Arts and Design

Your child will have the opportunity to express their own thoughts, ideas and feelings through drawing, painting, model making, and by using clay. They will use lots of tools to see how they work and what they can do and will use natural and manmade materials to design and make their own creations, models and structures. They will be able to explore colours, shapes and textures of flat and solid shapes and will get the opportunity to see interesting objects, pictures and people, feel different moods, taste a variety of flavours, smell an assortment of things and hold or touch things to see how they feel.

They will be able to listen to and make their own music, dance, sing songs and take part in imaginative role play with their friends. They will find the right means of expression and choose the words to share these times with their friends, adults and family as they play and explore the world around them.