Our Classes

• Ireland Class Miss Franklin – deborah.franklin@abbotsleaschool.co.uk
• Wales Class – Mrs Leyland – alex.leyland@abbotsleaschool.co.uk
• France Class – Miss Ledward- rebecca.ledward@abbotsleaschool.co.uk

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) applies to children from birth to the end of the academic year in which a child has their fifth birthday.

The EYFS is statutory and is detailed under the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. It forms a basis for developing essential skills such as communication, listening, persistence and collaborating with each other. The three prime areas cover the knowledge and skills which are the foundations for future progress, and which are applied and reinforced by the specific areas. All areas of learning are equally important and are interlinked.

Prime areas:

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

Specific areas:

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

At Abbot’s Lea School we continue each child’s journey through the EYFS into Key Stage One as this enables us to show progress against each child’s individual next steps. We build their resilience and ability to follow a routine and develop their engagement with adult led activities and group circle times where appropriate

In EYFS/KS1 each Term is based around a theme. However, it is important that the planning also reflects students’ interests and preferences. Therefore, a careful mixture of thematic planning and interest-led activities will be on display in each classroom.

In order to ensure that the environment, play items and other resources are used to promote student progress, they are carefully chosen and staff are trained to both follow student interests and support them to use resources in a way that will promote their development. To ensure this is fully thought-through, teachers create resource provision plans for both indoor and outdoor areas.

Example of an EYFS/KS1 indoor and outdoor provision plan:

How does EYFS prepare students for subject specific learning?

Staff carefully monitor students’ next steps in order to advocate for a students reediness for subject specific learning. It is important that all involved with a student’s development understand how the EYFS areas underpin what students need to know and be able to do in order to progress. Therefore, staff are supported to understand the link between what might look like playful activities and subject-specific learning higher up the school. These documents are used to support such understanding.