What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is how the  government and early years professionals describe the time in   your child’s life between birth and age 5.  It is a framework  setting the standards for learning, development and care for children during this period.

Nurseries and Reception classes must follow the legal document called the EYFS Statutory Framework.

How Your Child Will be Learning

The EYFS Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development. Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development.

These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. This is a little bit like a curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it's suitable for very young children, and it's designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child's unique needs and interests. Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. 

How can YOU help with your child's learning?

All the activities that you do with your child at home are important in supporting their learning and development, and have a really long lasting effect on your child’s learning as they progress towards and through school.  For example, talking, reading, singing nursery rhymes with your child or cooking and baking with them. 

Reading At Home

For more tips on reading with your children at home please follow this link click here.  If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will see some guides to reading with your child.  If English is not your first language then please do not worry, this fantastic resource can be downloaded in a number of different languages.

You will also find some useful websites to support your child's learning.

Useful Websites to Support Your Child

Reading: Oxford Owl Reading

Maths: Maths Games 

Letter Sounds:  Supersonic Friends

Please click on Development Matters to view the  document which outlines the criteria against which your child is assessed.

What to Expect When is a useful document which provides guidance to parents / carers on their child's learning and development in the early years.

British Values in EYFS

The staff in the Early Years Foundation Stage at St Francis CE Primary School is committed to serving our families and embraces the multicultural, multi-faith and ever changing local community.

We follow equal opportunities guidance to ensure there is no discrimination against any individual or group whatever faith, ethnicity, culture, gender, sexuality, political or financial status. The early years staff is determined to model, promote and reinforce British values for all children and families.

The five key British values are embedded into the ethos, principles and practice in our early years setting.

• 1.Democracy: Making decisions together
• 2.The Rule of Law: understanding that rules matter
• 3.Individual Liberty: Freedom for all
• 4.Mutual Respect: Treat other as you would like to be treated
• 5.Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs : Treat others as you would like to be treated 

Cultural Capital in EYFS

Cultural Capital is the essential knowledge that children need to prepare them for their future success. It is about giving children the best possible start to their early education.

What does ‘Cultural Capital’ mean in the EYFS?

1.Broadening minds and outlook on life - using ‘Philosophy for Children’ – asking thought provoking questions and children can answer using their imagination or experience.

2.Experiencing awe and wonder – walking into the setting and saying ‘Wow! I want to play with that!’

3.Reducing disadvantage – helping all children achieve.

4.Developing knowledge and understanding of the community and wider world – talking about and providing experiences within our setting which reflect the community of St Francis Primary School and the world beyond. 

Supporting  Communication & Language

Transition from Nursery into Reception

Other useful documents and links