What will my child learn at 3 and 4?
Foundation Stage - Nursery and Reception |
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Foundation Stage is for children from the age of three.
These are the Early Learning Goals which form the Foundation Stage of learning for young children. |
This is an example of a topic web as used in the Foundation Stage. This illustrates how staff include all the Early Learning Goals.
Foundation Stage ideas to help parents |
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- Personal, social & emotional development
- Communication, language & literature
- Mathematical development
- Knowledge & understanding of the world
- Physical development
- Creative development
The Foundation stage forms the basis of the curriculum in any setting (nursery, playgroup, childminder or school) which claims funding for three and four year olds in England . It will probably not feel like learning - most children see it as just fun and play. However, as they get to grips with: |
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speaking and listening
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singing and dancing
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stories and counting
they will be gaining all the basic skills that will get them off to a flying start when they reach Year 1. The Foundation Stage is important both in its own right and in preparing children for later schooling. |
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| The compulsory age for children to begin their formal education is still the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday. The QCA and the government are careful not to suggest that the school starting age has been lowered - although some people would say that to all intents and purposes it has. |
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The Foundation Stage prepares children for learning in Key Stage 1 and is consistent with the National Curriculum. The Early Learning Goals set high expectations for the end of the Foundation Stage, but these expectations are achievable for most children who have followed a relevant curriculum. |
This is an example of a topic web as used in the Foundation Stage. This illustrates how staff include all the Early Learning Goals.
Foundation Stage ideas to help parents |
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| Here are the Six Early Learning Goals with an outline of the content: |
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Cooperating with each other
- Problem solving
- Describing feelings
- Sharing ideas
- Expressing feelings
- Caring for precious things
- Awareness of other cultures
- Sharing responsibility
- Developing awareness of personal hygiene
- Caring for toys
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Language, Literacy and Communication
- Asking questions
- Positional language
- Story telling
- Interpreting pictures
- Stories from other cultures
- Using picture symbols
- Discussion
- Recognizing names
- Describing toys
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- Describing shape
- Ordering
- Describing pattern Counting
- Shape recognition
- Describing length and distance
- Sharing
- Mathematical language
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Knowledge and understanding of the world
- Exploring movement
- Naming body parts
- Experimenting with materials
- Building Selecting and using materials
- Cutting and joining
- Discussing features of the world around us
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Physical development
- Developing fine and gross motor skills
- Balancing skills
- Moving with increased control
- Moving confidently
- Moving with awareness of others
- Using small and large apparatus
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Creative development
- Sensory exploration
- Use of imagination
- Responding to music
- Enjoying song, dance and games
- Using materials
- Working in three dimensions
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