The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development. They will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

There are three prime areas of learning which are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development  (Prime Area)

Personal, social and emotional well-being is very important to us.  We want our children to be confident, take an interest in things around them and describe their own needs and feelings.  We want them to begin to understand the difference between right and wrong, to get on with others in the group and to develop empathy for others. 

Communication and Language (Prime Area)

We create opportunities for our children to talk, listen and communicate in a range of situations with each other and with familiar adults and visitors.  We use oracy and the development of language to ensure children leave the foundation stage able communicators. 

Physical Development (Prime Area)

Learning to control their bodies and be confident in their movements is an important aspect of the EYFS.  We foster the safe and careful use of tools and encourage our children to look after themselves and keep healthy. We also encourage children to become independent in managing their own health and

self-care.

These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, these prime areas of learning help them to develop skills in the four specific areas. 

These are: 

Literacy

We nurture early reading skills and encourage a love of books, stories, singing, poems and rhymes. We provide a range of stimulating and fun mark making opportunities in order to support the development of early writing skills. 

Mathematics

We develop our children’s problem solving skills and understanding of numbers, shape, pattern, space and measurement through everyday experiences as well as stories, rhymes and games.

Understanding of the World

Exploring and finding out about the world around them is very much a daily part of your child’s life with us.  The children can make and build with different materials, be introduced to technology and begin to understand a sense of time and place in their world.  They can begin to learn about their own and other cultures and beliefs.

Expressive Arts and Design

We like our children to be able to express their feelings and tell us of their experiences in many different ways.  They are encouraged to explore with blocks, colours, marks and a range of different textures.  Children have the opportunity to develop their imaginative role play and to explore with a range of instruments, songs and music.

‘Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems and relate to others’  (EYFS Framework p.9)

The diagram below gives examples of the areas of learning and development and shows the links between the way in which your child learns and what they learn. Please bear in mind that all children develop at different rates so these examples are for guidance only. They are taken from the Early Years Foundation Stage Development Matters document.

How can you help as a parent or carer? 

Your contribution at home is important in supporting their learning and development. Every fun activity you do at home helps and will have a long lasting effect on your child's development. We value your input and believe in strong links between school and home. For more specific ways in which you can help at home please see your class page under the 'Children' heading at the top of the website.