In the Foundation Stage, learning is organised into seven areas: three prime areas and four specific areas.  Read on to find out more about the EFYS or click here for our curriculum map. 

The Prime Areas

The prime areas lay the foundations upon which all further learning can develop. The prime areas are also extremely important for ‘igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving’, as stated in the statutory framework for the early years foundation stage. The three prime areas are:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

The Specific Areas

Early years settings must also support children’s learning and development in the specific areas. The four specific areas are intended to also strengthen learning and development within the prime areas, hence why the 7 areas are seen as being interconnected. The four specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Our youngest children work towards ‘Early Learning Goals‛ in each of these areas. They are assessed against these goals by the teacher on entry and again at the end of their first year in school and the parents and children are involved throughout the year in setting appropriate targets to ensure their continued progress.

Within the early learning goals, the 7 areas of learning and development are broken down further into different aspects. It is these aspects that form the 17 different early learning goals that are reported in the EYFSP.

The Prime Areas:

Communication and Language

There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for communication and language:

• Listening, Attention and Understanding
• Speaking

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for personal, social and emotional development:

• Self-Regulation
• Managing Self
• Building Relationships

Physical Development

There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for physical development:

• Gross Motor Skills
• Fine Motor Skills

The Specific Areas:

Literacy

There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for literacy:

• Comprehension
• Word Reading
• Writing

Mathematics

There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for mathematics:

• Number
• Numerical Patterns

Understanding the World

There are three different aspects for the early learning goals for understanding the world:

• Past and Present
• People, Culture and Communities
• The Natural World

Expressive Arts and Design

There are two different aspects for the early learning goals for expressive arts and design:

• Creating with Materials
• Being Imaginative and Expressive

Reception class children work on many activities through the day, some adult-directed and some independently. They have a daily English lesson and Mathematics lesson to prepare them for the next stage. Much of the learning takes place outside.