Our EARLY YEARS
Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), known as Foundation 1 and 2 is the entry point of formal schooling at SIA. We consider the Foundation Stage (that is the children between the ages of 3 and 5 years old) to be an extremely important part of a child’s learning journey as it helps them to get ready for school as well as prepare them for their future learning and successes.
In our British Curriculum school, we follow the Early Years Framework which is a 2 – year developmentally structured programme. We believe that this 2 – year Foundation Stage really does ensure that the building blocks for successful learning are fully in place before the entry into Year 1 of the National Curriculum.
This pre-school section helps ensure consistency and continuity within the school and allows parents to have a deeper understanding of what is needed to support their young children at home.
The seven areas of learning and development within the EYFS are equally important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
The three most important components being the Core Programme of:
Communication and Language
Personal and Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
The four specific areas of learning, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied, are:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
This programme sets the standards that promote teaching and learning to ensure children’s school readiness. Our programme gives children a broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life.
In planning and guiding children’s activities, teachers assess the different learning styles children employ and reflect these in their practice. Three characteristics of effective teaching and learning are:
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Playing and exploring
Children investigate, experience and encounter new activities
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Active learning
Children concentrate and are encouraged to continue working when they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements
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Creating and thinking critically
Children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies around projects