What will my child learn in the EYFS?
Your child will be learning the EYFS curriculum. If they have transitioned from a nursery or pre-school provision, this will be a continuation of what they have already been doing. The EYFS curriculum is largely play-based with three short adult-led sessions per day. Adults will adapt the learning environment in response to children’s interests to support them to play in different areas and learn new skills. There are three prime areas: Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development and Communication and Language. Then there are four specific areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Expressive Arts and Design and Understanding the World.
At the end of the EYFS, your child will be assessed against the Early Learning Goals. Teachers must assess whether children have achieved a ‘Good Level of Development.’ This will inform whether they are ready to transition into the National Curriculum as they enter Year 1.
Phonics and early reading
No doubt your child will arrive to us already displaying a love of books. We aim to build on this by making reading a regular and fun activity at school. Children will be read to, learn rhymes, retell stories and engage in role play regularly at school. You may well find your child starts to use story language in their play at home.
Phonics is a big part of the learning in the EYFS. Your child will develop their knowledge of phonics and will probably surprise you with just how quickly they develop their reading skills. They will take part in phonics learning each day. These are fun, pacy sessions which involve games and tasks. They will learn how to:
- link letters and sounds
- blend sounds to make words
- learn non-phonetic tricky words
Recommended reads: https://www.booksfortopics.com/early-years
Early writing
Your child’s writing journey starts the second they walk into school every day, as we carry out ‘fidgety fingers’ activities to strengthen the muscles in their hands ready for writing. Much of children’s early writing will involve mark making and having an adult to scribe, but we follow the children’s lead and if they show they are ready to write, we support them to do it. Over time, children will begin to form letters and numbers and before you know it they will be writing short words and sentences independently.
Early maths
Like all learning in the EYFS, maths sessions tend to be short, interactive, with plenty of hands-on activities. Your child will learn to count and work with their friends to explore shape and pattern. All learning will be reinforced through child-initiated learning, when there will be lots of opportunities to develop maths skills through role play, art and physical activity.
They will do maths inside and outdoors, and will talk about maths all the time, such as pouring water in containers, counting steps and sharing out fruit. Language development will be extremely important, in order to develop your child’s early reasoning and explanation skills.
https://www.topmarks.co.uk/maths-games/3-5-years/counting
How can I help my EYFS learner at home?
- Reading and talking are key at this age! Share books with your little one, talk about how words sound, recite nursery rhymes, sing songs and retell stories with puppets and role play resources. As your child’s language develops, this improves their readiness for reading. Read to them daily, modelling expressive reading and encouraging them to ask questions. Prompt them to be curious by asking what they notice and commenting on pictures in their books.
- Be playful! Play with your child, incorporating skills such as naming colours, talking about friendships and counting. Other activities such as climbing, cooking, science experiments and outdoor play will help develop your child’s natural curiosity as well as developing their gross motor skills.
- Self-care. Help your child to learn to put on their shoes, write their name and manage the toilet as they show signs of readiness. Encourage them to try doing things for themselves, but teach them how to know when to ask for help.
