What is the Early Years Foundation Stage ?
The Early years foundation stage (EYFS)framework is a set of guidelines, which determines that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. From when your child is born up until the age of 5 the early years foundation stage should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure: and support their development and learning needs. It helps all professionals working in the EYFS to help your child.

How my child will be learning.
Your child will be learning through 7 areas of development.
The 3 prime areas children should mostly develop in is:
. Communication and Language
. Physical Development
. Personal Social and Emotional Development.
These prime areas are the most important for a healthy development. These areas will also help them develop skills in 4 specific areas:
. Literacy
. Mathematics . Understanding of the world
. Expressive Arts and Design
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s development. We make sure activities are suited for your child’s unique needs. Children in EYFS learn by playing, exploring being active and a stimulating environment.
Examples of areas of learning and how/what they learn
. Communication and Language
For example between 1 ¾ and 2 ½ years developing an understanding of big/small.
.Physical development
For example between 3 1/4 and 5 years learning to control objects by throwing, catching, pushing and kicking.

.Personal Social and Emotional Development
For example between the areas of 2 ½ and 4 years learning to be confident to talk to other children when playing and about home and environment.
.Literacy
For example between 1 ¼ and 4 years learning how to suggest an ending to a story.
.Mathematics
For example between 1 ¼ and 2 years enjoying filling and emptying containers in the bath.
.Understanding of the World
For example between 2¼ and 3 ¼ years learning some things they have observed such as plants, animals, natural and found objects.
.Expressive Arts and Design
For example between the areas of 2 ½ and 4 years learning how to explore what happens when they mix colours.

As a parent how can I help with my Child’s learning?
It is so important that your child progresses in their learning and development at home as well as nursery, play centres and school. There are many fun activities you can do with your child to support their development:
.cook/bake together
.share a book
.plant seeds in the garden
.Explore in the park at different times of the year.
.Talk about different shapes of packaging at the supermarket.

How can I find out how my child is getting on ?
It is important that you and the carers for your child work together and feel comfortable to communicate and share information that will benefit your child. This is through your child’s key worker this is the person who:
. helps your child feel settled, happy and safe
.is your main point of contact in the setting
.is responsible for your child’s care, development and learning.
.take a careful note of your Childs progress and shares this with you to help with ways to help your child at home.
You must feel comfortable to ask at any time your Childs key worker on your Childs progress and development so you can see for yourself how your child is growing within the setting.

Children also learn through a happy and safe environment which we follow the 5 links Every Child Matters. 1. Being healthy is not just about eating lots of fruit and drinking 8 glasses of water each day.