EYFS INTENT, IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT

Intent

At Osmaston CE (VC) Primary School, we aim to provide an ambitious curriculum that follow the children’s interests through motivating first-hand experiences. We aspire for learners to build resilience; a lifelong love of learning which is rooted within our communities’ Christian values. We recognise that all children are unique and celebrate their differences. We strive to build on the wealth of knowledge and skills children already have when they arrive and develop connections across the curriculum by doing things independently.

Our environment is child centred, following the interests and fascinations of the current Reception children; therefore, children are able to become immersed. As a result, children’s learning over time deepens, resulting in the skills and knowledge required for their next stage of development becoming embedded. At Osmaston CE (VC) Primary School, we ensure that the language of learning is both rich and purposeful throughout the curriculum to ensure the ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ are clearly evident and communicated at all times.

Implementation

Reception aged children in Class 1 follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum (EYFS). 

The EYFS curriculum has 7 areas of learning:

• Prime Areas of Learning:
  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
  • Physical Development
  • Communication and Language
• Specific Areas of Learning:
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

The prime areas are fundamental, work together, and are crucial to development in all other areas. The specific areas include essential skills and knowledge. They grow out of the prime areas and provide important contexts for learning. The focus is, therefore, now to develop children’s competence in the prime areas before focusing in on the specific areas as children develop confidence.

Children are observed on a regular basis to assess their learning and next steps across the seven areas of learning, with a continued emphasis on the three prime areas. The learning experiences are play based, which are planned from the needs, interests and fascinations of each child. Learning continues within the outdoor learning and Reception aged learners also have access to Forest School Provision.  Staff divide their time between delivering planned adult led small group activities, planned large group activities, supporting child-initiated play, making observations and moving children’s learning forward.  Children are encouraged to be active learners, to think critically and creatively, and to develop independence.

In addition to these areas of learning, the EYFS curriculum seeks to foster characteristics of effective learning. These are the ways in which children engage with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support children in remaining effective and motivated learners.

The three characteristics are:

·     Playing and Exploring – children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a

       go’

·     Active Learning – children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter

       difficulties and enjoy achievements

·     Creating and Thinking Critically – children have and develop their own ideas,

       make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

Impact

At Osmaston CE (VC) Primary School, we believe that the impact of the EYFS curriculum is reflected in having well rounded, happy and confident children who embody out school’s Christian values transitioning into Year 1. We measure progress and children’s learning across the year through formative and summative assessments which are based on the Early Years practitioners’ knowledge of the child. 

The teaching and pedagogy are reviewed and evaluated regularly through professional dialogue. We ensure that the areas we discuss and develop are reflected in changes and developments in our classroom practice. This is communicated through the school’s social media platforms, Class Blogs and termly reporting systems and more often when required to support individual learners. The Early Years provision features in all areas of the School’s Development Plan and this is monitored and evaluated by the EYFS Lead, the Head teacher, and the governing body.

At Osmaston CE (VC) Primary School, our Reception learners will carry with them the knowledge, skills and resilience which will make them lifelong learners through the delivery of a well-planned, child-led and challenging curriculum.