EYFS - Academic Overview
There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational programmes in the Early Years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected.
Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive. These three areas are:
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, social and emotional development
We also support children in 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
What does this mean in practice?
Physical development
Physical development involves providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. We help children to understand the importance of physical activity, and to make healthy choices in relation to food.
Personal Development
Personal, social and emotional development involves us helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.
Literacy development
Literacy development involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. We give children access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest.
Mathematics
Mathematics involves us providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure.
Understanding the World
Understanding the World involves us guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment.
Arts & Design
Expressive arts and design involve us enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology.