EYFS Curriculum
EYFS at Westwood Farm
The Early Years Foundation Stage at Westwood Farm Schools is a nurturing and caring environment where children are supported to become confident and independent learners, delivered through an exploratory-based approach to developing and securing new skills.
Children in Foundation, both Nursery (FS1) and Reception (FS2) classes follow the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum (EYFS).
The children learn through play and exploration in carefully planned-for environments. They are encouraged to plan their learning and build on their experiences to deepen and embed their knowledge and skills. This is achieved by providing learning environments that are welcoming, thought-provoking and rich in opportunities.
In planning and guiding children’s activities, all practitioners must reflect on the different ways that children learn and demonstrate these in their practice.
The three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
- 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.
These characteristics are woven through all areas of learning and development. The characteristics are designed to be developed as children learn new skills and become more confident and independent learners.
There are seven areas of learning and development. All are important and interconnected.
Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
These are the Prime Areas;
Communication and Language
The development of children’s spoken language underpins all seven areas of learning and development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
crucial for children to lead healthy and happy lives, and is fundamental to their cognitive development.
Physical Development
vital in children’s all-round development, enabling them to pursue happy, healthy and active lives.
Providers must also support children in 4 Specific areas;
Literacy
It is crucial for children to develop a life-long love of reading. Reading consists of two dimensions: language comprehension and word reading. Writing involves transcription (spelling and handwriting) and composition (articulating ideas and structuring them in speech, before writing).
Mathematics
Developing a strong grounding in number is essential so that all children develop the necessary building blocks to excel mathematically.
Understanding the World
Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community.
Expressive Arts and Design
The development of children’s artistic and cultural awareness supports their imagination and creativity.
Each day the children will be taught through adult-led guided groups and through their own independent choices of activity, all of which are underpinned by the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum.
The children at Westwood Farm Schools love to learn in the safe and inviting spaces, both inside and outside - in particular in our Forest School Area at the end of our huge field!
What Do We Want To Be Able Do When We Leave Foundation Stage That Is Unique To Westwood Farm and Us?
To dress and undress independently
To learn and perform a poem
To play a game fairly
To follow instructions to prepare a fruit salad
To climb a tree
To write a sentence in a note to a friend
To create a collaborative piece of artwork
Sensory play
Mud kitchen
Small World Play to develop imagination
and communication Bug Hotel
Outdoor learning
Sharing stories to develop a love of reading
Games to develop word building and writing
Building confidence to write independently
