Early Years Foundation Stage
At Edison International 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:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
4 ‘Specific Areas:
- Literacy Development
- Mathematics
- Understanding of the World
- 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
National Curriculum of England
The National Curriculum of England is set out in a way to provide all children with the necessary skills and knowledge that they need in order to become educated citizens, encouraging creativity and achievement.
A particular focus is placed on the development of language and literacy. As English is both a subject in its own right and the medium of instruction, fluency in the English language is essential for children to succeed in all subjects.
The framework specifies objectives for every year group and each subject, which the children need to cover throughout the school year.
Your child will receive comprehensive education in the following:
English:
Here we aim at teaching your children to speak, read and write fluently, so that they can communicate their ideas and feelings to others. Reading in particular receives a lot of attention, as children can grow culturally, emotionally, socially and academically. Reading also gives children the opportunity to acquire knowledge and build on what they already know.
Mathematics:
Mathematics is essential to our daily lives and provides a foundation for understanding the world through its link to science, for developing critical thinking skills and for the ability to reason mathematically.
Science:
In accordance to the curriculum document, we strive for your children to study the essential aspects of the subject, to understand scientific processes, methods and uses of science. Your children will be guided towards realising the power of rational explanation, to use science to explain what is occurring, to analyse processes and to predict what will happen.
Humanities:
Here, we combine various subjects, including Geography, Physics, Biology and History to give your children the opportunity to gain a wide range of general knowledge.
In addition to the four core subjects, the National Curriculum stipulates for children to also be educated in the following:
ICT, Physical Education, Art and Design
Arabic and Islamic Studies
The curriculum for Arabic, Islamic Studies and Qatar History is stipulated by the Ministry of Education in Qatar. Edison International Academy supports the enhancement of the religious and cultural beliefs of the State of Qatar.
