The Craylands School EYFS 

Early Years Foundation Stage 

At Craylands, we are committed to providing a nurturing and stimulating environment for our youngest learners. Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) programme is designed to support the holistic development of each child, ensuring they have the best possible start to their educational journey. We focus on creating a safe, welcoming and enriching environment where children can explore, learn and grow. 

The Early Years Learning Environment 

Our Early Years outdoor area is thoughtfully designed to encourage pupils to engage in self-directed learning through a variety of resources and activities.  
 
The environment features multiple dedicated areas, including a maths challenge table, a graphics table, a role play area, a bike track, as well as a climbing frame and slide. These areas are carefully planned to stimulate children’s curiosity and support their development across all areas of learning. 

Learning in the Early Years 

The Early Years team ensure that children have the opportunity to take part in activities and experiences to work on the 7 areas of learning: 
Communication and Language 
Physical Development 
Personal, Social and Emotional Development 
Literacy 
Mathematics 
Understanding the World 
Expressive Arts and Design 
Read below for more information about some of the activities and experiences that may be provided in each area of learning. 

Communication and Language 

We provide a rich language environment where children can develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves, whilst also learning to listen and engage in various situations. 

Physical Development 

Children are provided with opportunities to be active and interactive, to help develop their coordination, control and movement. We also teach the importance of physical activity and making healthy choices with food and diet. 

Personal, Social and Emotional Development 

We help children build a positive sense of self and others, to develop social skills, to manage their emotions and to understand appropriate behaviour in groups. Confidence in their abilities is also fostered. 

Literacy Development 

We encourage children to link sounds and letters and to begin reading and writing. A wide range of reading materials is provided to ignite their interest in literacy. 

Mathematics 

Children are offered opportunities to develop their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, solving simple addition and subtraction problems and describing shapes, spaces and measures. 

Understanding the World 

We enable children to make sense of their physical world and their community by exploring, observing and finding out about people, places, technology and the environment. 

Expressive Arts and Design 

We encourage children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. We provide opportunities for them to express their thoughts, ideas and feelings through art, music, movement, dance, role play and design and technology. 

Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning 

The characteristics of effective teaching and learning are a key element within early years education. These characteristics detail the ways in which early years children approach their learning through their decisions and interests. They also relate to how children tackle new experiences and deal with challenges. They are split into three main areas: 
Playing and Exploring 
Active Learning 
Creating and Thinking Critically 

Playing and Exploring 

"Playing and exploring" focuses on how the child: 
 
Plans and thinks ahead 
Is guided by their own thinking and actions 
Makes their own independent choices 
Responds to new experiences and has their own interests and fascinations 

Active Learning 

Active learning is all about how a child: 
 
Displays goal-directed behaviour 
Participates in routines and becomes familiar with them 
Begins to correct their mistakes and perseveres even when they encounter difficulties 
 
Active learning challenges children to think, analyse and engage with learning on their own terms. 

Creating and Thinking Critically 

Creating and thinking critically focuses on how a child: 
 
Takes part in pretend play 
Sorts materials 
Reviews their own progress to achieve a goal 
Solves real problems 
Uses pretend play to think beyond the 'here and now' 
Gains confidence in their own ideas as their knowledge grows 
Makes links between ideas and concentrates on achieving things that are important to them 
 
Creating and thinking critically is where children start to develop their own ways of thinking and devise their own strategies for problem-solving.