The Literacy Hour Is Simply an Hour of the School Day When Teachers Work with Children
Literacy
This area of learning focuses upon the development of reading and writing skills. Children are encouraged to ‘mark make’, enjoy stories, books and rhymes and link sounds and letters.
You can help your child by reading stories, encouraging them to joinin
andtalk about the books, sing songs and nursery rhymes. They can
experiment with writing by adding simple labels to items around the
home or writing messages or cards totheir friends and family.
Mathematics
This area of learning includes developing mathematical understanding through stories, songs, games, everyday activities and imaginative play so that children enjoy experimenting and become confident and curious about numbers, shapes, patterns and measures.
You can help by talking about the shapes in the environment, comparing
things which are heavy and light or long and short, pointing out numbers
at home and in the environment, singing counting songs and rhymes,
counting anything and everything - socks, cars, shopping!
Understanding the World
In this area of learning, children develop knowledge, skills and understanding that help them to make sense of the world. This is the foundation for later work in history, geography, science, design technology and ICT.
You can help by talking to your child about the places they visit and things
they see in the world around them, answering and asking questions – what
if…? why do you think…? how did you…? Letting children join in with
everyday activities - washing up, cooking, shopping, tidying their room!
Expressive Arts and Design
This area of learning includes art, music, dance, drama and imaginative play – opportunities for children to try new experiences and express themselves in a variety of ways. Creativity is an important part of successful learning: it enables children to make connections between experiences, solve problems and be inventive.
You can help by talking to your child about their imaginative play and
joining in if possible, encouraging them to be flexible in their thinking
and use of materials and praising them for their efforts or ideas as well
as the end product.
Thank you in advance for all your help and support in the coming year!
Supporting your
child at home!
Early Years Foundation Stage
Early Years Foundation Stage
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a very important starting point in school, providing young children with the building blocks that they will require for later learning. In Reception we hope to provide experiences that will be enjoyable and will help develop positive attitudes towards learning throughout their time at school and beyond.
The EYFS covers all aspects of a child’s early development.There are four themes of the EYFS:
- A Unique Child - every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
- Positive Relationships - children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- Enabling Environments - children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers.
- Learning and Development - children develop and learn in different ways. Practitioners teach children by ensuring challenging, playful opportunities across the prime and specific areas of development.
The philosophy of the EYFS is such that PLAY, both indoors and outdoors should underpin the delivery of everything within this stage. Children learn in a variety of ways: watching others, talking, asking questions, listening, exploring and investigating.
Within the EYFS there are seven areas of learning and these are split into two parts:
PRIME areas
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
SPECIFIC areas
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
This does not mean that all of the children’s learning is divided up into areas. In one activity they can be developing knowledge, understanding and new skills across several areas of learning at once. For example, in making and playing with playdough they may go to the shop to buy ingredients (Understanding the World), look at a recipe and talk about the instructions (Communication and Language), count out spoonfuls of flour (Mathematics), mix and roll out dough (Physical Development), and then use their imagination to make snakes, animals, cakes etc. (Expressive Arts and Design). As their skills develop, they might then choose to label their creations (Literacy).
Partnership
At King Edwards we value the partnership we have with you as parents. You are your child’s first educators and they have already learnt so much from you. Our aim is to build on this; enriching and enhancing their learning through the Reception curriculum. Working together will ensure that your child continues to enjoy their learning experiences at home and school.
Below is a variety of suggestions on how to continue to support your child at home within the seven areas of learning.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
This area of learning is about how your child develops confidence and self-assurance, manages their feelings and behaviour, makes friends and shares and takes turns.
You can help by encouraging your child to use the toilet
independently, wash their hands and dress themselves. Playing games
which encourage sharing and turn taking will help your child to build
their social skills.
Communication and Language
This area of learning helps your child to develop communication skills and language through talking, thinking and listening in different situations.
You can help by encouraging your child to join in conversations and
discussions aboutthings that interest them orabout activities they
havedone,taking time to listen to them talking, answering their
questions and encouraging themto also listen attentively to others.
Physical Development
Makingprogress in physical development gives children confidence and enables them to feel the benefits of being healthy and active. Your child will participate in structured PE and dance sessions, improving their skills of co-ordination, control and movement. There will also be many opportunities for your child to develop fine motor skills - e.g. through using scissors, glue, paintbrushes and pencils.
You can help by giving your child time to run, jump, climb and play
outdoors and also by encouraging them in activities such as building,
drawing, threading beads or filling and emptying containers in the
bath - all of which develop manipulative skills.