The foundation stage is a term and statutory phase initiated by the government, and is relevant to all providers, in all settings with children of this age band.

It evolves around a document entitled “Curriculum guidance for the foundation stage.” This document details the expected level of attainment for children by the time they reach compulsory school age. It is divided into developmental areas and each area is further detailed into sections. These are called Early Learning Goals which are achieved through play and planned activities. There are six Early Learning goals: -

1. Personal. Social & Emotional Development

This area of development is critical for assisting young children in all other areas of learning.

We provide experiences and support each child in developing a positive sense of themselves. Children learn about themselves, develop respect for others, social competence and a positive disposition to learning.

2. Communication, language and literacy

This area of learning includes communication, speaking and listening in different situations, being read a wide range of books and reading simple texts and experiencing writing for a range of purposes.

We provide experiences that enable children to have these opportunities, as the development and use of communication and language is at the heart of young children’s learning.

3. Mathematics

This area of learning involves your child in activities and experiences that develop counting, sorting, matching, seeking patterns, making connections, recognising relationships and working with numbers, shapes space and measures.

Mathematical understanding will be developed through effective teaching methods such as stories, songs, games and imaginative play.

4. Knowledge & Understanding the World

In this area of learning children are developing the crucial knowledge, understanding and skills that help them to make sense of their world.

Activities and experiences are based on first hand experiences that encourage exploration, observation, decision-making and discussion. These will occur using the indoor and outdoor environment to stimulate your child’s interest and curiosity.

5. Creative Development

This area of learning includes art, music, dance, role-play and imaginative play.

Your child will be involved in a large range of activities that will allow their individual creativity to develop. We achieve this by offering them time to explore within an environment that values their creativity, originality and expressiveness.

6. Physical Development

In the foundation stage physical development is about improving skills of coordination, control, manipulation and movement. We provide experiences that will develop your child’s fine and gross motor skills.

This area of development is inseparable from the other areas because all that we do engages your child in being active and interactive.

However the success of this curriculum is only achieved if the providers understand how children learn, know how to plan, monitor and achieve this.