LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

   

Learning through play

Play helps young children to learn and develop through playing  and talking, which research has shown to be the means by which young children learn to think.  Our setting uses the practice guidance Early Years Foundation Stage to plan and provide a range of play activities, which help children to make progress in each of the areas of learning and development. In some of these activities children decide how they will use the activity and, in others, an adult takes the lead in helping the children to take part in the activity. 

​

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

The Early Years Foundation Stage is a statutory legal framework 

The EYFS is a document for us, as early years providers, to help us support your child’s learning and development from birth to five years old. It is a statutory requirement that all providers of education and care for 0-5 year olds must follow.

​

A full copy of the EYFS is available for parents to view on this website 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-foundation-stage-framework--2

​

​

Who makes sure that registered early years providers are following the EYFS?

All registered early years providers are inspected to make sure they meet the legal requirements of the EYFS. This is normally done by Ofsted. Surrey County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service offer support and information to early years providers too.

​

How will you keep my child safe?

The EYFS includes safeguarding and welfare statutory requirements that explain what we must do to keep your child safe. We must regularly update our policies and procedures in line with these requirements. For example:

• We must keep to staff to child ratio requirements.

• We must make sure that our staff are suitable.

• We must make sure our premises are secure and the equipment is safe for your child to use. 

• We must be accessing training and providing supervision for all staff to make sure that they fully understand their roles and responsibilities.

• We must keep full records of how to keep and give medicines and who is trained to do this.

• We must have strict data protection and a system to protect confidential information.

 

 

How else does the EYFS support my child?

The EYFS also sets out what we, as an early years provider, must do to make sure that your child learns and develops. It promotes teaching and learning through play to make sure all children have the skills for future life. We must make sure that all staff are fully aware of what they have to do, to make sure your child’s individual needs are met through the EYFS.

 

 

Who will make sure my child’s learning and care is tailored to them?

Your child will be assigned a key person when they start at our setting. You will be told the name of the key person and their role. The key person is there to make sure that your child’s learning and care is tailored to meet their individual needs, through discussion with you. They will also support you in giving you ideas on what learning you can do at home with your child.

 

What will you be doing with my child?

We must think about the individual needs, interests and stages of development of each child in our care. Through care and play we will support learning in the following three prime areas, 

 

Personal, social and emotional development:

• making relationships

• sense of self

• understanding emotions

 

Physical development:

• moving and handling

• health and self-care.

 

Communication and language:

• listening and attention

• understanding

• speaking.

 

​As well as the three prime areas, we will also plan activities in the following areas of learning and development, known as specific areas.