Early Years

The aim of our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum, is to promote a lifelong love of learning where your child is given the opportunity to flourish. At Chellaston Fields, we strive to provide high quality practice; with your child’s wellbeing, health and learning at the centre of all we do. We provide a vast range of learning opportunities using the Development Matters, which supports all children to make excellent progress towards the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) by the end of the EYFS.

At Chellaston Fields we believe it is paramount for children to learn to be independent and effective learners. We know that in order for children to achieve this, they must approach every opportunity and challenge with curiosity, enthusiasm and energy. Therefore, learning opportunities are always meaningful, giving children the chance to use what they know and apply it to new situations.

The Early Years Foundation Stage consists of seven areas of learning divided into three ‘Prime’ areas and four ‘Specific’ areas.

The prime areas are:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)
• Physical Development (PD)
• Communication and Language (C&L)

The specific areas are:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design

The Characteristics of Effective Learning are also an important component of the EYFS curriculum at Chellaston Fields Spencer Academy. They describe factors which play a central role in a child’s learning process, so that they develop a lifelong love of learning. These are skills which stay with children beyond the Foundation Stage and support children with their transition to Year One.

The Three Characteristics of Effective Learning are:

• Playing and Exploring – Engagement
• Active Learning – Motivation
• Creating and Thinking Critically – Thinking

Daily learning opportunities are planned and provided for your child in the above curriculum areas, by our experienced teacher and teaching assistants. The opportunities provided reflect the individual needs of the children, as well as their current interests. Our overarching aim is to provide learning experiences for your child through play, which enables us to meet the needs of their different learning styles. We learn inside and outside each day, utilising our purpose built learning environments and high quality resources.