EYFS
Who's Who in EYFS at Eastcroft Park
Reception Teacher and Deputy Headteacher- Mrs J Woods
Reception Classroom assistants- Miss Z Gilchrist
Miss A Williams
Miss D Williams
Nursery Teacher- Mrs N Arnold
Nursery Classroom assistants- Miss S McManus
Miss T Delaney-Chean
Miss L Cullen
The Early Years Foundation Stage at Eastcroft Park
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum is designed to involve children in a rewarding and enjoyable learning experience. Our indoor and outdoor EYFS environments provide a rich variety of continuous provision activities that complement learning through purposeful play.
Nursery and Reception have worked closely to plan a rich, engaging and thorough curriculum that offers an exceptional start to a child’s education. The EYFS at Eastcroft Park welcomes children from aged 3 into Nursery all the way through to the end of their reception year. The skills that are learnt and developed through their time with us in the EYFS effectively prepares them for Year 1.
We have a highly structured timetable which involves taught whole class and group sessions in Maths, English, Phonics/Reading and topic work. Children will take part in focused English and Maths activities each week as well as taking part in whole class carpet sessions each day. Children will also learn through exploration and discovery and will practise skills to develop understanding and knowledge.
The Curriculum
The EYFS curriculum is split into seven areas of learning and a total of 17 Early Learning Goals. These seven areas are collated into the ‘Prime Areas of Learning’ and the ‘Specific Areas of Learning’.
Prime Areas
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development (Self regulation, Managing Self and Building Relationships)
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention & Understanding and Speaking)
- Physical Development (Gross Motor and Fine Motor)
The prime areas of learning focus on the core skills that children need to be able to learn so that they can thrive in the EYFS. We encourage children to develop independence and resilience, as well a showing them how to make friends and engage with others using effective communication skills. Activities are also planned to develop children’s fine and gross motor skills so they are able to access all of the activities that are on offer to them. Of course, all children develop at their own pace and the EYFS curriculum at Eastcroft Park is tailored to meet the needs of all children.
Specific Areas
- Mathematics (number and Numerical Patterns)
- Literacy (comprehension, Word Reading and Writing)
- Understanding the World (Past and Present, People, Culture and Communities and the Natural World)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Creating with Materials and Being Imaginative & Expressive).
The specific areas focus on the core subjects of English, Maths, Understanding the World and the Arts. All areas are taught through a mixture of continuous provision enhancements, indoor and outdoor activities, child initiated and adult led activities and learning experiences.
Outdoor Learning in the EYFS
All of our outdoor continuous provision is enabled to help children develop across the seven areas of learning. Learning outside of the classroom supports the development of a healthy and active lifestyle by offering children opportunities for physical activity, freedom and movement and promoting a sense of well being. Learning in our outdoor area gives our children contact with the natural world such as with direct contact with the weather and seasons.
Outdoor play also supports children problem solving skills and nurtures their creativity as well as providing rich opportunities for their developing imagination and resourcefulness. We regularly see the enjoyment and sense of wonder and excitement when the children actively engage with their outdoor environment. Our outdoor environment at Eastcroft Park is used whatever the weather whether it be sunshine, rain, sleet and snow!