Early Years Foundation Stage

(Age: 3 to 5 years old)

At GEMS Wellington we aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all our pupils thereby giving them a solid foundation for their future learning. We create a safe and happy environment with motivating and enjoyable learning experiences that enable pupils to become confident and independent. We value the individual child and work alongside parents and others to meet their needs and help every child to reach their full potential.

As outlined in the EYFS learning ‘Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Pupils develop quickly in the early years and a child's experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances.’

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to pupils from birth to the end of the reception year.

The EYFS is based upon four principles:

• A unique Child
• Positive Relationships
• Enabling Environments
• Learning and Development

When pupils have opportunities to play with ideas in different situations and with a variety of resources, they discover connections and come to new and better understandings and ways of doing things. Adult support in this process enhances their ability to think critically and ask questions.

Pupils should be given the opportunity to be creative through all areas of learning, not just through the arts. Adults can support pupils’ thinking and help them to make connections by showing genuine interest, offering encouragement, clarifying ideas, and asking open questions. Pupils can access resources freely and are allowed to move them around the classroom to extend their learning.

We plan an exciting and challenging curriculum based on our observation of pupils’ needs, interests, and stages of development across the seven areas of learning to enable the pupils to achieve and exceed the Early Learning Goals.

All the seven areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.

Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting pupils' curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.

These three areas are the prime areas:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

Pupils are also supported through the four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.

The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Pupils are provided with a range of rich, meaningful first-hand experiences in which pupils explore, think creatively and are active. We aim to develop and foster positive attitudes towards learning, confidence, communication, and physical development.