Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

Learning Through Play

At Wingerworth Wonder Years, we know that children learn best through play, and we provide endless opportunities for them to explore new and exciting activities and resources whilst also being respectful of their personal interests. Provision for the development and learning of children from birth to 5 is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We reflect the main four principles of the EYFS Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage.

A Unique Child

Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers education and care of all children in early years provision including children with special educational needs and disabilities.

Positive Relationships

Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.

Enabling Environments

Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents.

Our Approach to Learning, Development and Assessment

Being active and allowing children to play supports young children’s learning and development through doing and talking. This is how children learn to think and understand the world around them. We use the of to plan and provide opportunities that help children make progress in all areas of learning. This programme is made up from a mixture of activities that children plan and organise for themselves as well as activities planned and led by the practitioners.

We aim to provide for characteristics of effective learning by observing how a child is learning and being clear about what we can do and provide in order to support each child to develop as an effective and motivated learner.

Assessment

We assess how children are learning and developing by observing them frequently, primarily through our play and interaction with them. Our observations are informal and part of our daily routine with the children; please don’t worry. We don’t formally assess any child.

We use the information that we gain from observations, photographs or videos of your child to document their progress and where this may be leading them. Parents are respected as partners in their child’s care and learning. We believe that parents know their children best, and we will ask you to contribute to their assessment by sharing information about what your child likes to do at home.

We carry out these assessments every 6-8 weeks as well as transition times. This assessment allows our practitioners to plan your child’s next steps of development. When your child begins nursery with us, they will also commence their online learning journal. We use a nursery software called Famly and all communication between parents and practitioners is through this app. This helps us celebrate their achievements together and to work together towards their learning development. This information will allow your child’s key person to identify your child’s stage of development and then decide on how to further this. We call this your child’s next steps.