The Early Years Foundation Stage Principles
All children deserve the best possible start in life. They need our help to fulfil their potential. Early experiences are vital to their future development. 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.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is the framework that provides assurance for parents when choosing their childcare. The EYFS principles which guide the work of all practitioners are grouped into distinct but complementary themes:
a)A unique child
b)Positive relationships
c)Enabling environments
The experience that our children meet enables them to develop a number of competences, skills and concepts across several areas of learning.
We plan a learning environment, both indoors and outdoors that encourages a positive attitude to learning. We use materials and equipment that reflects both the community that children come from and the wider world. We encourage children to make their own selection of activities on offer as we believe that this encourages independent learning.
Through play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which helps them to make sense of the world; they practice and build up ideas and learn how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. They communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems; they express fears or relive anxious experiences in controlled and safe situations.
In our nursery we believe that all children matter. We give our children every opportunity to achieve their best. The foundation stage underpins all future learning by supporting, promoting and developing children.
The curriculum for the foundation stage reflects the 7 areas of learning identified in stepping stones and the early learning goals.
- Personal, social and emotional
- Communication and language
- Physical development
- Mathematical development
- Literacy
- Understanding of the world
- Expressive Art and Design
Sharing information with parents
When your child starts nursery we will send you an email issuing you with log in details to our secure Parent Zone online site. Here you will be able to access your child’s profile including your child’s key worker observations linking to the EYFS and special ‘wow’ moments. You will also be able to make comments and share relevant information with nursery.
Key Workers
When your child starts nursery or moves rooms, they will be introduced to new members of staff. Each child will be given a key worker who will monitor and record any relevant milestones on their individual tracker or information that can then be shared with you. These trackers are updated at regular intervals and will be shared with your chosen school, when your child leaves nursery.
2 year old checks
Progress check at age two
When a child is aged between 24-36 months their key worker and health visitor will review their progress. The areas for review are communication & language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development. This progress check must identify the child’s strengths and any areas where progress is less than expected. This will be done during the child’s normal nursery day, written notification will be sent prior to the date by your health visitor or clinic. You will then be invited to the Nursery to discuss this integrated development assessment,you will be encouraged to share information about your child’s interests and achievements at home. This will be an opportunity for you to discuss any concerns you have about your child’s development.We will not share any information regarding your child without receiving your permission.
Visits and outings.
As part of their learning and development children at the nursery undertake a range of local outings including walks, visits, etc. off the premises. Permission will be sought for your child to be included in such outings. Outings and visits are planned to enhance the learning opportunities inside the nursery environment and extend play opportunities for children.
These will be carefully planned and the following guidelines will be followed on all outings from the nursery, whatever the length or destination of the visit:
- Written permission will always be obtained from parents before taking children on trips
- Appropriate staffing levels for outings depend on how the safety and the individual needs of the children can be assured
- A fully stocked first aid box will always be taken on all outings along with any special medication or equipment required
- Regular headcounts will be carried out throughout the outing. Timings of headcounts will be discussed in full with the nursery manager prior the outing
- All staff will be easily recognisable by other members of the group; they will wear the nursery uniform and adults will use the reflective safety waistcoats if needed when using public roads / footpaths
- Children will be easily identified by staff when on a trip by use of a sticker system with the nursery’s name on
- A fully charged nursery mobile will be taken in caseof emergency along with a list of emergency contact numbers
- In the event of an accident, staff will assess the situation, if required the group will return to nursery immediately and parents will be contacted to collect their child. In the event of a serious accident an ambulance will be called at the scene, as well as parents being contacted. One member of staff will accompany the child to the hospital, and the rest of the group will return to the nursery
- A pre-visit checklist and risk assessment will always be carried out before the outing. We will endeavour to visit the venue prior to the visit. This will ensure that the chosen venue is appropriate for the age, stage and development of the children.
We carry out and review full risk assessment prior to any excursion i.e. local footpath, roads, outdoor play policy.
Part of Crank Day Nursery early year’s curriculum is to ensure all children have opportunities to access outdoor play throughout the year. In order to do this it is important to ensure your children have the appropriate clothing / protection.
Our learning environment includes all the available indoor and outdoor provisions, our outdoor play compliments and extends activities that are provided indoors.
Our outdoor area provides excellent opportunities for strengthening your child’s physical development and also provides ideal opportunities for large scale construction, creative work, sand, water, knowledge of the wider world and exploration.
Outdoor play provides great opportunities to play co-operatively, sharing resources, turn taking, negotiating, communicating ideas and developing friendships. Physical activity is enjoyable and promotes a sense of self esteem through achievements. Some kinds of learning can only take place outside. Children need freedom to be safely adventurous.
The following guidance is to help you as parents understand our policy on outdoor play.
Spring/Summer
Children will not be allowed to access outdoor play in hot weather unless they have the appropriate protection.
- Sun hats.
- Sun cream – You must provide your own sun cream but this must be of an appropriate factor and quality.
In very hot weather staff will make day to day decisions about the length of time spent outside dependant on the strength of the sun.
- Drinks: Children will have free access to drinks at all times.
Autumn/Winter
Please be prepared for your child to get wet and dirty as this is just part of the learning journey.
During the winter months we would ensure the children have the opportunity to experience a range of weather i.e. snow, wind, ice, to do this we need to ensure that children have appropriate clothing.
- Drinks: again children have free access to drinking water
- Clothing: Hats / gloves / warm coats / wellies – please ensure that all clothing is named.
When the weather is very cold we would ensure that children are out for limited periods only.