Overview of the EYFS Curriculum
Our curriculum follows The Statutory Framework of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), and the four guiding principles that underpin our curriculum are:
- Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
- Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- Children learn well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers.
- Children learn and develop in different ways.
We support the children to develop ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ and recognise that these are an important part of how children play and learn - they help them to form attitudes about learning that will last a lifetime.
- playing and exploring- children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
- active learning- children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
- creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.
The EYFS covers seven areas of learning and development - three prime areas and four specific areas of learning, all of which are valued equally at Birchwood Nursery School and Preschool. The children experience each of these areas, through adult directed and child-initiated opportunities and through provocations and invitations to support their fascinations and to enhance their learning.
The Prime Areas
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematical Development
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
