The curriculum at Once Upon a Time provides a balance of activities that encourages children to become happy, courteous, well-motivated and independent learners. Since September 2015 we have been introducing teaching and learning activities based on the English curriculum: The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).
Purpose of the Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a play-based curriculum for children from birth to five years, which allows children to explore and learn in an environment that is secure and safe, yet challenging.
Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.
Research into early child development shows that children learn more rapidly during their first three years than in later life; whilst all areas of learning are important and inter-connected, the three Prime areas that are crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, building their capacity to learn and form relationships and thrive. These are:
- Communication and language;
- Physical development; and
- Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the world; and
- Expressive arts and design.
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities on a daily basis and it is designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child’s unique needs and interests. When planning and guiding activities staff will reflect upon the different ways that children learn and ensure they utilise this within their practice. The Characteristics of Effective Learning are:
Playing and Exploring
Supports children’s engagement and investigation and to experience things through being willing to ‘have a go’.
Active Learning
Supports children’s motivation to learn by helping develop their concentration, ability and will to keep trying when challenges occur and celebration of completing a task.
Creating and Thinking Critically
Supports children’s thinking skills through developing ideas, making links between differing ideas and create strategies for completing a task.