Curriculum EYFS | Our Lady and St Swithin's Catholic Primary School

Curriculum EYFS

Reception children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, which consists of seven areas of learning. The three Prime areas of learning are fundamental in laying the foundations for learning within the specific areas.

Within the Foundation Stage the children learn through a balance of adult directed and child initiated activities in an environment which is developed around the children’s interests.

Prime Areas of Learning

Communication & Language Development This area of learning involves giving children opportunities to speak and listen in a range of situations and try to develop confidence and skills in expressing themselves.

Physical Development
This area of learning involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive, and to develop their co-ordination, control and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

This area of development involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have self confidence in their own abilities.

We also follow the Jigsaw Programme whole school approach for personal, social and emotional development.

Specific Areas of Learning

Literacy
This area of learning involves encouraging children to foster a love of reading and writing. We want children to write for a purpose using their knowledge of phonics, which will be taught through the Read Write Inc programme. We use a Talk for Writing approach for learning and retelling stories, which helps children to make up their own stories and ultimately write them.

Mathematics
This area of learning involves providing children with the opportunities to practise and improve their skills in counting numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems, and to describe shapes, space and measures.

Understanding The World
This area of learning involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.

Expressive Arts and Design
This area of learning involves supporting young children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials; as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.