The Foundation Stage

Parents Curriculum Meeting – September 2014

What is the Foundation Stage?

• The Foundation Stage begins when children reach the age of three, when children might attend a nursery setting.

• The final year of the Foundation stage is when children are in a Reception class of a primary school.

• It prepares children for learning in their future school career.

Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:

1. Communication and Language2. Physical Development

3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

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

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are: 1. Literacy; 2. Mathematics; 3. Understanding the world; and4. Expressive arts and design.

The CurriculumAreas of learning…

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Encourages children to be independent and to interact with other children and adults.

• Helps children to become confident, safe, secure and ready to learn from new experiences.

• Tell the difference between right and wrong.

Physical Development

• Supports children’s healthy development.

• Provides opportunities for using a range of large and small equipment.

• Helps them to develop a sense of space around themselves and others.

• Encourages balance.• Develops practical skills such as

dressing, undressing etc.

Communication and Language

•Talk confidently and clearly;

•Show awareness of listener;

•Enjoy listening to stories, songs and poems, showing good attention;

•Follow instructions;

•Answer questions about stories.

Literacy

• Enables children to begin to hear sounds in words and to link these sounds to letters.

• Encourages children to develop pencil control and to begin to make marks on paper.

• Will help children to learn to read and write individual words and eventually, simple sentences independently.

Mathematical Development

• Helps children to count, read, order and write up to 20 and beyond.

• Encourages them to use mathematical words such as greater, smaller, heavier, lighter, more, less etc.

• Develops skills in comparing and sorting objects.

• Supports children’s understanding of shape and size including 2D and 3D shapes.

Understanding the World

•Explore and find out about the world around them, asking questions about it;

•Build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for;

•Find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives;

•Find out about different cultures and beliefs.

Expressive Arts and Design

• Inspires children to explore colour and colour changes.

• Helps them to explore shape and texture using all of their senses.

• Develops an interest in music, singing and music-making.

• Develops confidence, imagination and role play.

Monitoring Progress Each of the 7 areas of learning has its own set of

Early Learning Goals’ which determine what most children are expected to achieve by the end of Reception Class.

We use Development Matters to identify the

developing knowledge, skills, understanding and attitudes that children will need if they are to achieve the Early Learning Goals by the end of the EYFS. These statements will be updated regularly throughout the year to show your child’s development and areas where they need further support.

The Learning TriangleAs parents and carers, you are your child’s first teachers. You have a powerful influence on your child’s early learning.

The relationship between child, school and home is crucial in the learning triangle.

There is clear research that proves that those children who work outside of school alongside their family, achieve more.

“Adults who help children to play are adults who help children to learn.”

What can you do to help your child’s development?Homework Given out Collected inReading books Everyday Everyday News Flash on timetable Monday

Letters and Sounds HomeworkSeptember-December; Phonics practise

Friday Monday

November- July; Phase key rings

Key rings will be put onto bookbag, please read these with your child each day. When they are confident and fluent, please let your child’s class teacher know and they will test them. They will then move onto the next phase.

January-July; Spellings Monday Spelling test on Friday

January-July; English homework

Monday Friday

EAL Team

• We are extremely lucky to have the support of our EAL team. They work endlessly to support children who have English as an Additional Language.

• If you should wish to speak to a member of the EAL team… please contact Mrs. Penney or Miss Gilderthorp and we will be happy to help you.

Inclusion

• Mrs. Rama is our Inclusion Manager.

• Provision for our SEN and G and T children.

CAFAW

Child and Family Action Workers; Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Whiteley will share a few words about their roles.

Starting school

• Transition is over 3 weeks.

• Thurs 11th /Friday 12th Sept : whole class start school – 8.45am – 12.00pm.

• 15th– 26th Sept – 8.45am-1.15pm (lunch)• From 29th Sept – Full time, until 3.05pm.

• School starts at 8.45am – please be prompt.

• School finishes at 3.05pm

And Finally…

• If you would like to come in to school to help out in EYFS we are always grateful for volunteers!!!

• If you have any questions, please come in and see us and we will do our best to help you

Mrs. Penney and Miss Gilderthorp