The EYFS is how we describe the time in your child’s life between birth and 5.  

 

We as a pre-school must follow a legal document called the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework to be able to deliver the EYFS.

 

Your child will be learning skills, acquiring knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

 

3 Prime Areas:

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

2. Communication and Language

3. Physical Development

 

4 Specific Areas:

1. Literacy

2. Mathematics

3. Understanding the World

4. Expressive Arts and Design

 

Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outdoors.

 

Each child will have a key person who will ensure that the activities we offer are suited to your child’s unique needs and interests. They will also help your child to become settled, happy and safe, takes note of your child’s progress, sharing this with you and giving you ideas as to how to help your child at home. 

 

To start this process we offer a home visit where we can discuss with you your child’s interests, strengths and favourite toys and activities they like at home. These discussions will form the basis of our observations and planning for your child as they settle in at Explorers. From then on this becomes a two way partnership in supporting your child’s learning and development.

 

You are able to discuss your child’s development at anytime by talking to your child’s key person after session, by attending our parent and carer consultation meetings or by attending a play and stay session. 

 

Progress check  at 2 years and A Unique Child 

If your child is aged between 2-3 years and hasn’t already had a 2 year check at another setting depending on attendance patterns, at about 6-8 weeks, you will be given a written summary of how your child is progressing against the 3 prime areas. This is called the 2 year check. 

In addition to this you will also be given a written summary called a unique child summary during parent and carer consultation meetings where you can discuss with your child’s key person their progress and add you comments to the summary.

 

At Home Board

This is a board that we have situated in the main room where you can celebrate your child’s learning and development by displaying snippets of information brought in from home. Your child’s key person will use this information to help with their assessments and observations and share with your child their successes.

 

Stay and Play Sessions

We offer stay and play sessions every half term where you have a chance to become involved in activities with your child. This is also an opportunity to discuss in a more informal environment anything you wish to with your child’s key person and to share ideas to support your child’s learning and development at home.