Nursery and Reception Curriculum Information Meeting

September 28th 2015

Aims of tonight's meeting

• To help you to understand the curriculum which is covered in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

• To understand how we teach in order to cover the requirements of the curriculum.

Aims of tonight’s meeting

• To understand how adults assess your child within the classroom environment.

• To identify the key ways in which you can help your child at home and in school.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

• The Early Years Foundation Stage (E.Y.F.S.) is the stage of education for children from birth to the end of the Reception year.

• It is based on the recognition that children learn best through playing and exploring, active learning and thinking critically.

Young Children Need

• To be supported and encouraged when facing new experiences.

• Help to develop positive relationships and attitudes.

• To have their security and well being considered.

• To be responded to as individuals.• To have time and space for active

exploration in and out of doors.• To be provided with meaningful contexts

for learning.

In the Early Years Foundation Stage framework there are seven areas.

1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development

2. Communication & Language3. Physical Development4. Literacy5. Mathematics6. Understanding the World7. Expressive Arts & Design

Personal, Social and Emotional DevelopmentThe children will be learning to:

• confident to try new activities

• know what their own needs are

• confident to speak in a familiar group

• become independent

• manage their feelings and behaviour

• Develop positive relationships with their peers and adults

Communication & Language

• Listening and attention• Understanding and speaking • Talk confidently and clearly

• enjoy listening to stories and to answer ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions in response to

stories or events

LiteracyThe children will be learning to:• hear and say sounds, and link them

to the alphabet• read and write familiar words • Forming clear and identifiable

letters• Enjoy an increasing range of books

Physical Development

• Moving and handling small and large equipment

• Health and self care including dressing and undressing themselves and going to the

toilet independently.

• Developing fine and gross motor skills

Mathematics• develop an understanding of number

through stories, songs, games and imaginative play.

• become confident in solving simple problems that may involve sharing, doubling and halving.

• be aware of 2D and 3Dshapes and use everyday language to talk about size,weight, capacity, position, distance, time and money.

Understanding the World,People and Communities and technology

• find out about the world around them, asking questions about it

• build with different materials, know about everyday technology and learn what it is used for

• find out about past events in their lives and their families' lives

• find out about different cultures and beliefs.

Expressive Art & Design

• Exploring different materials safely • Sing songs and make music

• Represent their own ideas, thoughts and feelings through design and technology, art, music, dance, role play and stories.

Typical Day in Reception• Register• Phonics ( adult led)• Singing• Independent learning( time to practise skills taught)• Snack/play• Adult led learning/self initiated learning ( applying skills with own

ideas)• Lunch• Adult led learning/self initiated learning• Story• HomeWe aim for a balance across the day/week of different types of learning. Children have their own Learning journals where we put their work, achievements and significant observations. Please don’t expect to see lots of worksheets and formal work books.

How do we assess your children?

• Observations:• Takes place as part of daily routine. • Formal/Focussed; These are observations which

are planned for i.e. a specific early years outcome statement.

• Informal/Incidental; These are observations which happen spontaneously, i.e. when children are selecting from child initiated activities.

• Forms a basis for planning on a weekly basis.• Assessment is always ongoing.• Making decisions about when a child needs to

consolidate achievements or when (s)he needs to move on to next steps.

Observe-assess-plan cycle

Tracking Progress

• Baseline assessment which happens during first six weeks of being in Reception.

• Every day observations of the child mainly in our heads, but some written down. (LJ)

• Every term teachers summarise their knowledge of the child into the bigger picture, using Early Years outcomes.

• End of EYFS/end of reception- final summary of the child’s ELG attainment against each ELG. For each ELG children will be awarded ‘emerging, expected or exceeding’.