At Oakfield, we follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework (EYFS) A curriculum which promotes learning through play within a natural and stimulating environment – one that gives children time to explore the world around them at their own pace. The EYFS approach aims to promoting effective teaching and learning and ensure children’s ‘school – readiness’.
We aim to achieve a balance between free play and structured activities to meet the needs of all children and to encourage language, confidence and independence.
The EYFS has seven areas of learning that teachers use to plan your child’s learning and development with Oakfield Early Learning Centre. We ensure that all the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. Children learn by playing and exploring, and being active.
They develop key skills such as creative and critical thinking, the ability to express themselves, work with others, and learn and understand.
The Seven Areas of Learning in the EYFS are:
Prime Areas
1. Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behavior in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities. At Oakfield we have a strong focus in this area.
2. Communication and Language
Giving children opportunities to experience a rich language environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; and to speak and listen in a range of situations. At Oakfield our language of instruction is English. The children are given lots of opportunity for language development through play and interaction with other children.
3. Physical Development
Providing opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; and to develop their co-ordination, control, and movement. Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity, and make healthy choices in relation to food. In Oakfield we have a large gym with a wide range of physical equipment. The teachers lead daily P.E sessions, teaching healthy lifestyles as well as team games. In cooler weather the children also walk to a nearby park 1 morning per week to enjoy outdoor play.
Specific Areas
1.Literacy
Encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children must be given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems, and other written materials) to ignite their interest. In FS2 the children progress in reading and writing through a strong reading and writing program. All children leave Oakfield reading at or beyond grade level.
2. Mathematics
Providing children with opportunities to develop their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces, and measure. At Oakfield we use hands on manipulative materials to embed a strong foundation in mathematics.
3. Understanding the World
Guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. Thanks to our multi-cultural staff team and families in Oakfield, the children are exposed to many different cultures. This is supported by inviting parents in to share celebrations, stories and experiences from their home cultures.
4. Creative Development
Enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play, and design and technology. At Oakfield, we do not limit art and craft materials, children have everything they need to express themselves artistically. We also have a wide range of STEM materials, and all children participate in a weekly STEM challenge. (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.)
