Foundation

Introduction

The Foundation stage applies to children from three years of age to the end of the reception year. In our school, all the children will join us at the beginning of the school year in which they are five. Compulsory schooling begins at the start of the term after a child’s fifth birthday. At the beginning of year 1 Key stage 1 begins for our children. In preparing children for later schooling the Foundation stage is paramount in its own right.

Aims of the foundation stage

The Foundation stage curriculum underpins all future learning by supporting, fostering, promoting and developing children’s,
o Physical development
o Mathematical development
o Knowledge and understanding of the world
o Creative development
o Positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning social skills
o Communication, language and literacy
o Personal, social and emotional well being

In the Foundation stage general features of good practice are

o The partnership between teachers, and parents, so that our children feel secure at school and develop a sense of well being and achievement.
o Teacher’s understanding of how children develop and learn, and how this affects their teaching
o Range of approaches used to provide first hand experiences, give clear explanations, make appropriate interventions and extend and develop play and talk or other means of communication
o By the end of the Foundation Stage a carefully planned curriculum helps children achieve the Early learning goals set out which are expected of most children by the end of the Foundation Stage.

o The identification of the progress and future learning needs of children through observations, which are regularly shared with parents.
o Good home, school relationship prior to children joining the school

Literacy

At Reception class Literacy is taught as an integral part of the school’s work. The format of the lesson will be different to the rest of the school. As the Reception class is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate Literacy aspects to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals.
All children are given an opportunity to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and to each other, listen carefully, and to practice and extend their range of vocabulary and communication skills. They have the opportunity to explore, enjoy, learn about, and use words and text in a range of situations.

Numeracy

We teach Numeracy in our Reception class. As the class is part of the Foundation stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the mathematical aspects of the children’s work to the objectives in The Numeracy Strategy cross referenced by those set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five. We give all the children ample opportunity to develop their understanding of number, measurement, pattern, shape and space through varied activities that allow them to enjoy, explore, practice and talk confidently about mathematics.

Geography/Knowledge and Understanding of the world.

We teach Geography in Reception classes as an integral part of the topic work covered during the year. As the Reception class is part of the Foundation Stage of the National Curriculum, we relate the geographical aspects of the children’s work to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals (ELGs), which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five. Geography makes significant contribution to the ELG objectives of developing child’s knowledge and understanding of the world through various activities.

P.E. Physical Development

We encourage the physical development of our children in the Reception class as an integral part of their work. We relate the physical development of the children to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, Which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five years. We encourage the children to develop confidence and control of the way they move, and the way they handle tools and equipment. We give all the children the opportunity to undertake activities and offer appropriate physical challenge, both indoors and outdoors, using appropriate resources to support specific skills.

P.S.H.C.E Personal, social and emotional development

We encourage personal, social and emotional development of our children. In the Reception we relate this to the objectives set out in the Early Learning Goals, which underpin the curriculum planning for children aged three to five. We encourage children to develop emotionally e.g by knowing what is right and wrong. In social development aspects such as sharing and taking turns are considered.
Children are give opportunities to make choices through choice board activities set out in the Reception class and also through Role play.

Reviewed February 2009
Temporary content for "crystal gardens foundation right column" this content will be edited soon.