Early Years Foundation Stage

EYFS at Pine Ridge and Lorraine

We want our children to be engaged, motivated, creative and curious.  This will enable them to become problem solvers, critical thinkers, risk takers and independent learners.  We achieve this through our early years environment which is stimulating and inviting both inside and outside with high quality open ended resources using a free flow approach.

We provide rich learning opportunities which promote challenge and enable children to become independent and resilient learners.  Multi use resources enable children to have ownership over their learning.  We create environments where children can have fun and create purposeful mess.  Adults are sensitive and nurturing and sensitively support children’s play, language and thinking through positive relationships.  This includes skilled questioning which helps to extend children’s thinking and understanding without interfering with their original ideas and thoughts.

Through a deep knowledge of child development our environment and interactions creates happy, confident children.  This is enhanced by relevant adult directed activities.

Through this provision, we aim to create skilled lifelong learners.

Learning within the Early Years Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception)

In planning and guiding children’s learning experiences, staff in our Nursery and Reception units reflect on the different ways that children learn and cater for these in their daily practice.

Three characteristics of effective learning in the early years are:

1. Playing and exploring - children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’
    
2. Active learning - children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
    
3. Creating and thinking critically - children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things

Learning experiences for Nursery and Reception children are planned around seven Prime and Specific Areas of Learning and experience.  Early Learning Goals summarise the knowledge, skills and understanding that all young children should have gained by the end of the Reception year.

Playing and exploring with the willingness ‘to have a go’, alongside being an active learner engaging in ‘hands on’ experiences, develops each child’s ability to make links, share views and express ideas in a safe and supportive learning environment.

Early Years practice is developed in line with ‘best practice’ guidelines and supports the concept of continuous provision, free-flow, and a predominantly child-led learning environment both indoors and outdoors.  At the heart of this is the development of communication and language skills.