What to Expect When in EYFS
EYFS at Berkeley Academy
At Berkeley Academy, we provide a stimulating and safe environment for children to thrive in. We aim to develop academic and social skills for life-long learning and our curriculum reflects the fascinations and interests of children in EYFS.
We use Tapestry to record children’s knowledge, skills and next steps in learning. These observations are shared with parents and carers.
For details of how you can support your child’s learning and development, please refer to ‘What to Expect When’ or speak with your child’s class teacher.
What do children learn in EYFS?
Communication and Language Development:
We give children opportunities to experience a rich language environment, to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.
How? Adults and children interact throughout the day as children engage in both learning and play. There are daily opportunities to talk in small group and children in Reception work with older children to develop their social skills.
Physical Development:
We provide opportunities for all children to be active and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children are helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
How? Children spend time learning outside every day where they build, balance and climb. Inside, they develop their fine motor skills using playdough, scissors and construction resources. Children have daily snack time and are encouraged to talk about their favourite fruits and vegetables.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We help children to develop a positive sense of themselves, to form positive relationships and develop respect for others. We develop children’s social skills through routines and opportunities to work with others. Children learn how to manage their feelings, to understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to have confidence in their own abilities
HOW? Children take responsibility for tidying their learning environment. They work in carefully planned small groups, enabling them to build positive relationships. Children have free access to a wide range of carefully selected resources which builds their independence and confidence.
Literacy Development
Phonics is integral to literacy development and is taught throughout the EYFS. Children are encouraged to link phonemes (sounds a letter, or group of letters, make) and graphemes (letters) in order to read and write. Children at Berkeley Academy are taught phonics using the Letters and Sounds programme.
HOW? Children in Nursery learn a weekly nursery rhyme which is performed to parents. Small group activities support children to develop their ability to rhyme and identify sounds. Children are introduced to a range of books, stories, songs and rhymes in order to ignite a love of reading. The classroom environment supports storytelling and children are encouraged to use a range of mark making materials. Children in Reception do daily handwriting practice to reinforce phonics and letter formation.
Maths
We provide children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems and to explore shapes, spaces, and ways to measure.
How? Children learn mathematical rhymes and songs. Continuous provision, indoors and outside, offers numerous opportunities to develop mathematical understanding.
Understanding the World
We guide children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
How? Children enjoy a well-planned learning environment both inside and outside, which provides them with a range of experiences and opportunities to learn. Across the year children are involved in gardening, cooking and woodworking.
Expressive Arts and Design
We provide children to explore a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology
How? Children enjoy using the performance area outside for singing and dancing. They have access to materials for painting, modelling and making patterns.
https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2015/03/4Children_ParentsGuide_2015_WEB.pdf