Foundation Stage
Children spend their first year of school in The Foundation Stage which makes a crucial contribution to children's early development and learning. We provide children with a stimulating environment and a range of exciting teaching and learning experiences that are appropriate to their needs. The Foundation Stage develops key skills such as speaking and listening, concentrating, perseverance and working with others through a play based curriculum.
During this time their curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning, split into Prime and Specific areas which lay secure foundations for their future here at SPCEDS.
The Prime areas of learning are fundamental to supporting development in all other areas of learning.
The three Prime areas of learning are:
- Communication and Language;
- Physical Development; and
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
The Specific areas of learning include essential skills and knowledge that children need to acquire in order to participate successfully in society.
The four Specific areas of learning are:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the World; and
- Expressive Arts and Design.
The Foundation Stage curriculum also includes three Characteristics of Effective Learning which refer to how children learn. They underpin learning and development and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner. These are considered carefully when setting up our learning environment and planning activities for the children.
The three Characteristics of Effective Learning are:
- Playing and exploring - investigating and exploring things, 'having a go';
- Active learning - concentration and perseverance leading to being proud of achievements;
- Creating and thinking critically - developing their own ideas, making links between ideas and developing strategies for doing things.
The outdoor environment is an integral part of the Foundation Stage curriculum; it is planned for, used and thoroughly enjoyed on a daily basis. The children are entitled to 50% of their learning to be in the outdoors.
Staff in Foundation Stage 2 carry out observations on iPads using Seesaw. This allows us to carefully track children's abilities and interests in order to ensure that our provision is appropriately challenging and engaging. Children's achievements are shared regularly with parents/carers via email. Parents/carers are encouraged to contribute to these achievements.
Reading is supported through the Monster Phonics Scheme and Annabel Cooper (EYFS Lead) is also our Phonics Lead in school.