It has been carefully planned so that children experience the best possible start to their education and establish solid foundations on which they can build. The Foundation Stage is about developing key learning skills such as listening, speaking, concentration, persistence, and learning to work together and cooperate with other children. It is also about developing early communication, literacy and numeracy skills that will prepare children for Key Stage 1 of the curriculum. Children's learning in the Early Years Foundation Stage is planned and assessed through six areas of learning which lay a secure basis for children's future learning and give an indication of what children know and can do by the end of Reception. The six areas of learning are:

·         Personal, social and emotional development

·         Communication, language and literacy

·         Mathematical development

·         Knowledge and understanding of the world

·         Physical development

·         Creative development

The Early Years Foundation Stage sets early learning goals within each of the above learning areas and these provide the basis of our curriculum planning and assessment. The table below outlines the early learning goals iCAN addresses in its planning and monitoring of children in the Early Years Unit.

  Personal, Social and Emotional Development

·         Level of interest and motivation in learning

·         Confidence in a familiar group

·         Ability to concentrate and persevere

·         Awareness of own needs, views and feelings of others

·         Developing respect for a range of cultures and beliefs

·         Ability to show appropriate feelings

·         Good relationships with adults and children

·         Understanding of right and wrong

·         Independence in personal needs and hygiene

·         Ability to select activities and resources independently

·         Understanding of consequences of own words and actions

  Communication, Language and Literacy

·         Level of confidence in speaking and listening

·         Enjoyment of stories, songs, poems and rhymes

·         Ability to make up stories and songs

·         Clarity of speech with adults and children

·         Degree of attentive listening and response

·         Take turns and share conversation

·         Range of vocabulary

·         Re-telling stories in sequence

·         Knowledge of initial sound of own name

·         Ability to read and write name

·         Ability to read and write other names or words

·         Knowledge of sounds and letters

·         Level of ability in developing writing skills

·         Ability to hold a pencil correctly

  Mathematical Development

·         Counting to 10 and beyond

·         Recognising numbers to 10

·         Writing numbers (age, phone number, house number)

·         Use mathematical language to make comparisons such as: more, less, smaller, heavier etc.

·         In practical activities, the ability to add and subtract.

·         Copying patterns or sequences.

·         Knowledge of shapes such as circle, square, rectangle.

·         Ability to sort and match sets in play.

  Knowledge and Understanding of the World

·         Capacity to talk about: home; environment; family; past and present experiences; local area; different cultures and beliefs.

·         Capacity to explore and recognize: features of living things; natural objects and materials; made objects; similarities, differences, patterns and change.

·         Capacity to: talk about observations; ask 'why?' and 'how?' questions; record observations.

·         Capacity to: explore and select materials; use equipment and tools; use skills (cutting, joining, folding, building); use technology - a mouse and keyboard, a tape recorder for listening.

  Physical Development

·         Ability to: move confidently, imaginatively, develop control and move safely in work and play; develop co-ordination; show awareness of space, themselves and others; show some understanding about what contributes to a healthy lifestyle; recognize physical activity has an effect on the body.

·         Capacity to use: small and large equipment; balancing and climbing apparatus.

·         Ability to: handle tools and objects safely; work with construction materials; work with malleable materials.

  Creative Development

·         Show development in the exploration of: colour, texture, shape, form and space in 2D and 3D.

·         Ability to: sing songs from memory; recognize sound patterns, match movements to music.

·         Respond to senses: seeing, hearing, smelling, touching, tasting.

·         Use imagination in: art and design, music, dance, role play and stories.

·         Express and communicate ideas through: using materials and tools; imaginative play; designing and making; songs and instruments.

 

Children's progress throughout the Early Years Foundation Stage is reported to parents verbally, in parent meetings and in written reports. End-of-year profiles list the six areas of learning and the specific Early Learning Goals, which have been targeted during the year, giving you an indication of how your child is progressing in relation to each particular goal.