Early Years Foundation Stage

At Eskdale Academy Early Years, we endeavour to create an outstanding and memorable learning experience for all children through the careful construction of an environment that enables all children to thrive and make progress and equip them to be life-long learners. Through researching various theorists of Childhood Education, we have developed and created an environment based on the Curiosity Approach, amongst others to enable quality interactions to take place thus develop a rich language environment. The Early Years curriculum has been planned to be progressive from the 2-Year-olds to Reception with the children being able to build upon previously learned skills.

The four themes from 'The Statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage' form the basis of curriculum planning at Eskdale Academy. These are:

• A Unique Child
• Positive Relationships
• Enabling Environments
• Learning and Developing

The characteristics of effective learning and the prime and specific areas of learning are all interconnected and move through all areas of learning and in all phases of the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The characteristics of learning are:

• Critical thinking
• Playing and exploring
• Active learning

The prime areas of learning are:

• Communication and language
• Personal, Social and Emotional development
• Physical development

The specific areas of learning are: 

• Numeracy
• Literacy
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Art and Design

Through free and supported play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which help them make sense of the world. They practise and build up ideas, and learn how to control themselves and understand the need for rules through guidance and encouragement. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. With support they communicate with others as they investigate and solve problems.