Early Years Foundation Stage at Exhall Cedars

The teaching and learning in the Foundation Stage is of the highest standard and this is reflected in the progress that our children make whilst in Pre-School, Nursery and Reception and then in school.

Children are offered an abundance of opportunities to learn through play and high-quality interactions with our highly skilled Early Years practitioners, ensuring that all learning is fun and engaging. We use an ‘Adaptive Teaching’ style to challenge and support all children whatever their starting point, through enabling or enhancing the learning, always working towards the Early Learning Goals at the end of Reception. Our EYFS team are effective role models, who provide high quality interactions through use of the ShREC approach in order to develop and deepen our children’s learning opportunities. We deliver a progressive curriculum based on knowledge and skills which is taught through a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities supported by the EYFS Framework, the end of year expectations & inspired by children’s interests.

Please see how we observe your children and monitor their progress in our Nursery and Preschool through OP&L.

We know that deep level learning will only happen when children feel safe and secure and are able to fully engage with their learning. As a school we have developed an approach that is Attachment Aware and Trauma Informed. From Pre-school the children are introduced to the ‘Areas of Regulation’ which are in place throughout the whole of the foundation stage and up until the end of KS1. It teaches children to develop an awareness of their feelings and internal state. It supports the development of their Emotional Literacy, enabling children to identify and label their feelings. Our children are taught how to use a variety of tools and strategies to support and develop their self-regulation, prosocial skills, self-care and overall wellness. Whilst these skills are developing our skilled staff support children through co-regulation in order to be ‘learning ready’. 

Prime areas of the EYFS Framework:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

These areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving.

We also support the children through four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Characteristics of Effective Learning

Playing and exploring: – Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’. Children who actively participate in their own play develop a larger store of information and experiences to draw on which positively supports their learning.

Active learning: – Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties. They are proud of their own achievements. For children to develop into self-regulating, lifelong learners they are required to take ownership, accept challenges and learn persistence.

Creating and thinking critically: – Children develop their own ideas and make links between these ideas. They think flexibly and rationally, drawing on previous experiences which help them to solve problems and reach conclusions.