The Foundations curriculum is designed to meet the needs of our Early Years and Key Stage1 children. It is based on the principles and practice of play-based learning, taking our lead from the uniquely individual interests and motivations of our children, within a high quality and well-structured environment.
This promotes the highest levels of engagement in a structured and supportive learning environment. The Foundations curriculum is based on ‘Development Matters’ (2021). It is delivered mainly through topic-based planning which aims to offer a wide variety of themes to provoke interest throughout the year. Children accessing the Foundations pathway are aged from 2-7 and developmentally range between 8-60 months.
Rationale:
Through the EYFS Pathway, we aim to ensure that are children are:
- Able to use appropriate communication skills to express needs, wants and thoughts to those around them and understand that this is reciprocal.
- Making as much physical progress they are capable of achieving.
- Given opportunities to develop a strong sense of self.
- Confident in their relationships with adults and peers in order to grow and make progress.
- Able to explore and express their own feelings.
- As resilient and independent as they can possibly be and can show perseverance in the face of challenge.
- Given opportunities to explore and develop curiosity, creativity, fascination, awe and problem solving.
- Given opportunities to develop understanding of rules and expectations.
- Given opportunities to develop Literacy and Maths skills as is appropriate to their stage of development.
- Given a range of opportunities to learn about the world around them and being part of it.
Intent:
The curriculum that is offered through the EYFS Pathway:
- Personal, social and emotional development – developing and maintaining relationships with others, understanding own feelings and needs, self-regulation and managing self. Understanding feelings and needs of others.
- Physical Development – becoming as physically able as possible on an individual level, managing own needs and care as independently as possible, developing appropriate gross motor skills and fine motor skills.
- Communication and Language – developing crucial listening and attention skills, developing understanding and expressive language.
- Literacy – Love of reading/ being read to, comprehending what we are hearing. Word reading, expressive language/ writing.
- Problem solving and mathematical awareness.
- Creative development – art, drama, music, role play.
- Understanding of the world around us and our role in it.
Implementation:
We achieve our intentions by:
- Providing a range of opportunities for play and exploration to support development in all areas of learning.
- Providing warm and genuine relationships that children can grow and flourish from.
- Providing adult led and scaffolded experiences to support individual learning in all areas.
- Regularly reviewing each individual’s needs and next steps to ensure progress.
- Ensuring we work closely with the team around each individual to ensure they are making the best progress (parents, medical professionals etc).
- Ensuring that we always keep the child at the centre of what we do.
Impact:
The impact of the EYFS Pathway provision is demonstrated through the development of pupils who are:
- Confident and happy, able to form relationships and understand the expectations and rules in the setting.
- Resilient and independent, seek challenge and show a ‘can do’ attitude.
- Able to communicate to a range of people their needs, wants and thoughts in different contexts and situations and with different methods as required.
- Communicating effectively to those around them.
- Making the most of their physical ability and skills despite individual challenges and barriers.
- Enthusiastic to engage with a range of resources and experiences, even if they are completely new to them. They are keen to learn and curious about the world around them.
- Able to solve a range of problems through trial and error.
- Developing an enthusiasm for stories and being read to, seeking out books independently and associating books and stories with positive experiences.
- Interested in play and exploration in a variety of contexts and are active learners.
- Demonstrate key characteristics of effective learning.
- Are interested in mathematical concepts and exploring these.
- Think creatively and explore a range of ideas, acting on these as appropriate.