The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children are provided with a broad range of knowledge and skills.

There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in early years settings. All areas of learning and development are 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. These three areas, the prime areas, are:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development.

The Academy must also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the world
• Expressive arts and design.

Our Reception teachers plan activities through learning experiences, which are based around children’s interests.

To assess the progress of children within EYFS, the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile is completed for each child. This provides parents and carers with a well-rounded picture of their child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, their progress against expected levels and their readiness for Year 1.