EARLY YEARS’ FOUNDATION STAGE CURRICULUM
At The Ark Pre-school, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines and curriculum. This framework provides 7 areas of learning and development by which we can plan, track and monitor your child’s progress. In doing this, we evaluate areas which require focus in order to fully prepare your child for their next stage of education, when they leave us to go to primary school. All learning is done through play, and ongoing observations ensure that staff can identify areas of strength, and areas where improvement may be needed.
The curriculum includes 3 primary areas and 4 secondary areas, and we plan activities in order to ensure we meet all requirements within these areas.
Primary areas:
§ Communication and Language
§ Personal, Social and Personal Development
§ Physical Development
Secondary areas:
§ Mathematics
§ Literacy
§ Expressive Arts and Design
§ Understanding the World
In line with the EYFS we have a balance of child-led and adult-led activities throughout the session. We also encourage plenty of play outside, where there is also plenty of opportunity for learning. Finally we use the environment around us to ensure that children are able to learn in the area around them, as well as in the security of our setting. We use outside space in all weathers and parents are asked to ensure children are sent with appropriate protection for all weathers.
When your child starts at The Ark, you complete a form, which gives us information on your child’s interests, skills and abilities at the point of entry to our setting. This becomes our starting point (or ‘Baseline’) for tracking his or her progress through their time with us.
Additionally, parents are asked to pass feedback to staff on a regular basis, as your child may do different activities, and show different interests or areas of strength at home, than they do in our setting. With all this information, we are able to complete a tracker on a termly basis to enable us to see how to focus our planning to your child’s specific areas of strength and areas for improvement. We have consultations with your child’s keyworker at the end of each term so we can have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, go through the learning journal with you and answer any questions you may have.
Your Child’s Learning Journal
Throughout the EYFS, our setting will document your child’s progress in a Learning Journal. This document follows your child onto their next setting, which is often their move to primary school, which will ensure your child experiences the best possible transition from one setting to another.
We are very pleased that we are going to be involved with your child’s unique journey of learning and development. Your child has a member of staff, referred to as a Key Worker, who will ensure your child’s specific needs and interests are met as fully as possible. Of course this will be more effective if you can share what fascinates and interests your child at home.
We will invite you to chat to us at the end of each term, so we can feedback our observations on your child’s progress, as well as to help us to provide appropriate opportunities and activities to support and develop your child’s learning. It is equally helpful and important that we know of any dislikes and worries your child might have, to ensure that they feel happy and secure whilst they are in our care.
Your child’s learning and progress will be recorded and captured in this special Learning Journal. We invite you to be as fully involved in this as possible so that together we can create a precious and valued record of your child’s unique journey through their early years. Photographs, observations, and samples of your child’s work will provide a unique record of your child playing and exploring at home and in the setting – a special book to share with all the family.
This learning record will be used to inform assessments made throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage and support your child’s Key Worker to plan the next steps in your child’s learning and development. It will be shared with you and your child during your child’s time in EYFS and will be given to you to keep when your child is at school.
Every early years setting is required to assess your child’s development at age 2-3 years and again at age 5 years at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We hope that you will contribute to these assessments and feel comfortable to discuss your child’s learning and development with their Key Worker.
Please speak to your child’s key person or a staff member if you have any queries or concerns regarding your child’s development or well-being.
You are welcome to look through your child’s learning journal at any time, although they are stored securely for data protection reasons.
At The Ark Pre-school, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) guidelines and curriculum. This framework provides 7 areas of learning and development by which we can plan, track and monitor your child’s progress. In doing this, we evaluate areas which require focus in order to fully prepare your child for their next stage of education, when they leave us to go to primary school. All learning is done through play, and ongoing observations ensure that staff can identify areas of strength, and areas where improvement may be needed.
The curriculum includes 3 primary areas and 4 secondary areas, and we plan activities in order to ensure we meet all requirements within these areas.
Primary areas:
§ Communication and Language
§ Personal, Social and Personal Development
§ Physical Development
Secondary areas:
§ Mathematics
§ Literacy
§ Expressive Arts and Design
§ Understanding the World
In line with the EYFS we have a balance of child-led and adult-led activities throughout the session. We also encourage plenty of play outside, where there is also plenty of opportunity for learning. Finally we use the environment around us to ensure that children are able to learn in the area around them, as well as in the security of our setting. We use outside space in all weathers and parents are asked to ensure children are sent with appropriate protection for all weathers.
When your child starts at The Ark, you complete a form, which gives us information on your child’s interests, skills and abilities at the point of entry to our setting. This becomes our starting point (or ‘Baseline’) for tracking his or her progress through their time with us.
Additionally, parents are asked to pass feedback to staff on a regular basis, as your child may do different activities, and show different interests or areas of strength at home, than they do in our setting. With all this information, we are able to complete a tracker on a termly basis to enable us to see how to focus our planning to your child’s specific areas of strength and areas for improvement. We have consultations with your child’s keyworker at the end of each term so we can have an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, go through the learning journal with you and answer any questions you may have.
Your Child’s Learning Journal
Throughout the EYFS, our setting will document your child’s progress in a Learning Journal. This document follows your child onto their next setting, which is often their move to primary school, which will ensure your child experiences the best possible transition from one setting to another.
We are very pleased that we are going to be involved with your child’s unique journey of learning and development. Your child has a member of staff, referred to as a Key Worker, who will ensure your child’s specific needs and interests are met as fully as possible. Of course this will be more effective if you can share what fascinates and interests your child at home.
We will invite you to chat to us at the end of each term, so we can feedback our observations on your child’s progress, as well as to help us to provide appropriate opportunities and activities to support and develop your child’s learning. It is equally helpful and important that we know of any dislikes and worries your child might have, to ensure that they feel happy and secure whilst they are in our care.
Your child’s learning and progress will be recorded and captured in this special Learning Journal. We invite you to be as fully involved in this as possible so that together we can create a precious and valued record of your child’s unique journey through their early years. Photographs, observations, and samples of your child’s work will provide a unique record of your child playing and exploring at home and in the setting – a special book to share with all the family.
This learning record will be used to inform assessments made throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage and support your child’s Key Worker to plan the next steps in your child’s learning and development. It will be shared with you and your child during your child’s time in EYFS and will be given to you to keep when your child is at school.
Every early years setting is required to assess your child’s development at age 2-3 years and again at age 5 years at the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage. We hope that you will contribute to these assessments and feel comfortable to discuss your child’s learning and development with their Key Worker.
Please speak to your child’s key person or a staff member if you have any queries or concerns regarding your child’s development or well-being.
You are welcome to look through your child’s learning journal at any time, although they are stored securely for data protection reasons.