Welcome to our Early Years
A buzzing hive of exploration and discovery, our Early Years begins to impart in our children, the confidence to seek out their own answers. Our young discoverers are taught using the EYFS curriculum. Their amazingly captivating little world is tucked away in a safe and purpose-designed section of the school. From the door, they make their way through a mini zoo and then take a walk down a high street, before arriving at their learning hub for the day.
You are assured of a warm reception at any point during the day, not just from the teachers, assistants and nannies but also from the students themselves. You will see happy, smiling faces engrossed in various acts of discovery of the world around them, exploring and soaking in every iota of knowledge their sponge-like minds can absorb.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to children from the beginning of Pre-School to the end of the Reception year (Ages 2 -5). It incorporates four themes. Each theme expresses important principles underpinning effective practice in the care, development and learning of young children.
The four themes and principles are:
The seven areas of learning and development are:
- Communication and Language (listening, attention and understanding, speaking)
- Physical Development (gross motor skills, fine motor skills)
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development (self-regulation, managing self, building relationships)
- Literacy (comprehension, word reading, writing)
- Mathematics (numbers, numerical patterns)
- Understanding the World (past and pattern, people, culture and communities, the natural world)
- Expressive Arts and Design (creating with materials, being imaginative and expressive)
At Avi-Cenna we recognize that children develop in individual ways and at varying rates. Children’s attitudes and dispositions to learning are influenced by our praise and encouragement.
- We aim to encourage children to develop a positive attitude to learning.
- We value the diversity of individuals within the school and do not discriminate against children because of ‘differences’.
- All children at Avi-Cenna are treated fairly regardless of race, religion or abilities.
- All children and their families are valued within our School.
At Avi-Cenna we recognise that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending the children’s development. This begins by observing the children and assessing their interests, development and learning, before planning challenging but achievable activities and experiences to extend their learning.
The Early Years Foundation Stage area is organised to allow children to explore and learn within a secure and safe environment. There are places where the children can be active, be quiet and rest. Children are encouraged to find and locate equipment and resources independently. Labels include pictures to help pre-readers and everything they are allowed to use is within their reach. The EYFS area has its own enclosed outdoor area that is used every day.
This has a positive effect on the children’s development as being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors. Observations of the children take place outdoors in the same way as they do inside.
At Avi-Cenna we value all areas of learning and development equally and understand that they are inter-connected. Play is a very important part of the EYFS curriculum. Through play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which help them make sense of the world. They practise and build up their ideas and learn how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. They learn to communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems.
‘Active learning’ occurs when children are motivated and interested. Children need to have some independence and control over their learning. As a child’s confidence develops they learn to make their own choices and decisions. This provides children with a sense of satisfaction as they take ownership of their learning. Children need to have some independence and control over their learning. As a child’s confidence develops they learn to make their own choices and decisions. This provides children with a sense of satisfaction as they take ownership of their learning.
Children should be encouraged to be strong and independent when required, forming the basis for positive relationships that they will go on to have. They should also be given the safety and security to bolster the relationships they have with those closest to them.