Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

What does the EYFS mean for my child?

The Early Years curriculum is about much more than learning to read, write and count. It supports the whole child.

Children learn through a combination of:

• purposeful play and exploration
• conversations and interactions with adults and other children
• stories, songs, rhymes and books
• practical, hands-on experiences
• carefully planned activities
• opportunities to practise and apply what they have learned
• developing independence and taking responsibility
• exploring their own interests and ideas.

Play is a particularly important part of learning in the Early Years. Children are given opportunities to explore, investigate, make choices, solve problems and develop their imagination, while adults skilfully support and extend their learning.

The seven areas of learning

The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning and development. These are closely connected, and children often develop skills in several areas at the same time.

The first three areas — Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and Physical Development — are known as the prime areas. They are particularly important in supporting children’s development and underpin learning across the other four areas.

How do we know how well children are progressing?

Assessment in the Early Years is an ongoing process. Teachers and practitioners observe children as they play, learn and interact, and use what they see to understand each child’s development and plan what they need to learn next.

Children are not tested throughout the year. Instead, assessment is largely based on what teachers know about children through their everyday interactions, observations and work.

At the end of Reception, teachers make an assessment against the Early Learning Goals. These describe the knowledge, skills and understanding children are expected to have developed by the end of the Reception year.

The Early Learning Goals are used for assessment — they are not a curriculum or a checklist that children have to work through.

How can parents help at home?

Parents and families have an enormously important role in children’s early learning. Everyday experiences provide wonderful opportunities for learning.

You can support your child by:

• sharing books and stories every day
• talking together and introducing new words
• singing songs and nursery rhymes
• counting as part of everyday activities
• encouraging your child to get dressed and manage their belongings independently
• cooking and baking together
• going on walks and talking about what you see
• encouraging drawing, painting, cutting and making
• playing games together
• encouraging your child to ask questions and explain their ideas
• giving them time to play, explore and solve problems for themselves.

Most importantly, talk, play, read and have fun together. These simple experiences make a huge difference to children’s language, confidence, relationships and readiness to learn.

Preparing children for the future

Our Early Years curriculum is designed to give children a strong foundation for their future learning. We want our children to leave Reception as enthusiastic and confident learners who can communicate effectively, build positive relationships, look after themselves and others, and approach new experiences with curiosity and resilience.

Every child is unique, and children develop at different rates. At Beverley Minster Primary School, we celebrate individual progress and work closely with families to ensure that every child is supported to achieve their potential.

We believe that a happy, secure and curious child is ready to learn — and that the Early Years should be the beginning of a lifelong love of learning.