Early Years

Welcome to the

Early Years Foundation Stage

at Windhill Primary School

This important stage helps your child to develop and get ready for school. The Early Years experience should support development and be active, fun, exciting and secure; where children learn through their play. Both Foundation Stage 1 and 2 staff have been working with the Early Excellence centre in Huddersfield to provide the highest standard of learning environment for our pupils.

In providing an effective Early Years Curriculum we are able to promote the Fundamental British Values outlined below, particularly through PSED and KUW:

• Democracy - having opportunities to make choices
• The rule of Law - understanding why we need rules
• Individual liberty and mutual respect - expressing our preferences and treating each other well
• Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs - understanding that we are all different and celebrating this

We change our topics regularly to ensure the children remain enthusiastic and motivated about their learning. The Foundation Stage learning environment extends to encompass outdoors as well as indoors, with a range of quality, open ended resources provided in all areas. Our children have access to a fully enriched outdoor area for most of the day and so we recommend that they have suitable footwear and clothing all year round.

Characteristics of Effective Learning
 

The Characteristics of Effective Learning and the Areas of Learning and Development are all interconnected.

‘The ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.’

(Development Matters in the Early Years Foundation Stage)

The Characteristics of Effective learning support the development of the Unique Child in how children are learning.

Characteristics of Effective Learning:

Playing and exploring – engagement

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active learning – motivation

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing ways to do things

We will always consider the Characteristics of Effective Learning within our observation, assessment and planning cycle in the EYFS.

Outstanding Practice Recognised

The outstanding practice in our Foundation Stage has recently been acknowledged in a new book Effective Assessment in the Early Years Foundation Stage by Jan Dubiel (Published by Sage), showing examples of the wonderful work our children do and the excellent assessment procedures in place.