The Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum guides children’s learning from 0-5 years old. At Aston Clinton School, we engage children in a creative curriculum that is tailored to their needs and reflects the context and community in which they live. At all times, we seek to inspire children with a love of learning and thirst for knowledge that will remain with them throughout their lives.

In Reception, sometimes known as Early Years (EYFS), we use the  EYFS Framework as the basis for our planning – this is a very unique way of working and follows on from any pre-school experience the children may have had.

Children in the Reception learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

There are 7 areas used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The staff teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. 

The children learn skills, acquire new knowledge and demonstrate their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development. These are the ways in which the child engages with other people and their environment – playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically – underpin learning and development across all areas and support the child to remain an effective and motivated learner.

Children should develop the 3 prime areas first.

These are:

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

In the new EYFS Framework these prime areas are considered the most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. As the children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas.

4 Specific Areas:

• Literacy;
• Mathematics;
• Understanding the world; and
• Expressive arts and design

In Reception, children will engage in child-initiated learning within the Reception Provision. This is in line with our continuous provision, which means that children continue to explore and build upon their learning with uninterrupted play. The curriculum is implemented through planned, purposeful play and through a mix of adult-led and child-initiated activities.

Exploration is a fundamental within our Reception classes. It means children are able to choose activities where they can engage with other children or adults or sometimes play alone. During these activities, the children will learn by first-hand experiences; by actively ‘doing’ as well as through scaffolding and modelling by adults.