Early Years Foundation Stage

At Edison Global Academy, your child will be guided through the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework of England.

A child’s experience in the early years has a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right, and it provides the foundation for children to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up.

Children develop rapidly during the Early Years Foundation Stage – socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually – and each child is entitled to provision that supports and extends knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence.

There are three characteristics of effective learning, which are considered essential for a child’s holistic development (Tickell review of the EYFS curriculum 2011):

Playing and exploring – engagement

  • Finding out and exploring
  • Playing with what they know
  • Being willing to ‘have a go’

Active learning – motivation

  • Being involved and concentrating
  • Keep trying
  • Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and thinking critically – thinking

  • Having their own ideas
  • Making links
  • Choosing ways to do things

At our campuses, we organise our Preschool and Reception classes to ensure that we offer all children opportunities to explore these characteristics.

The Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is organised into 7 areas of learning:

 

 3 ‘Prime’ Areas:

  1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  2. Communication and Language
  3. Physical Development

 

4 ‘Specific Areas:

  1. Literacy Development
  2. Mathematics
  3. Understanding of the World
  4. Expressive Arts and Design

 

“There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early year’s settings. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected.”

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014

We do recognise that ‘play’ is of the utmost importance in the learning process for children in our Preschool and Reception classes, and fall in line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014, which states that

“Each area of learning and development must be implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activity. Play is essential for children’s development, building their confidence as they learn to explore, to think about problems, and relate to others.”

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2014.