Parent’s guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage

1. Parent’s guide to the Early Years Foundation Stage This guide outlines the different areas of learning in the Foundation Stage as well as suggesting some ideas for you to help your child at home. Most importantly you should have fun and play together!!!!! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask one of our Foundation Stage Team.

2. What is the Early Years Foundation Stage? • The Foundation Stage is from Birth to Five years. “Every child deserves to best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and five have a major impact on their future life chances. The Early years Foundation Stage seeks to provide a secure foundation, partnership working, quality and consistency and equality of opportunity” (Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2012) • At Timberley your child will be within this stage when they join us in Playgroup, Nursery and/or Reception. • There are 7 areas of learning. These are Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language, Physical Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.

3. Personal, Social and Emotional Development Interacts with others Deals with their emotions Looks after their personal hygiene Views their behaviour and it’s consequences Play games to encourage sharing and turn taking Talk about how things make both you and your child feel Encourage your child to wash their hands after going to the toilet Encourage your child to ‘have a go’ at dressing themselves When your child does something they shouldn’t have, encourage them to think about what they did and why it was wrong This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

4. Communication and Language Talks and listens to others Understands others Asks questions Recognises and responds to sounds Read stories Talk about the stories Listen to sounds in the environment Chat, talk, speak to, whisper and sing with your child This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

5. Physical Development Moves using large movements; running, jumping and climbing Manipulates objects using small scale movements; cutting, drawing, threading and writing Looks after their own health and hygiene Handles toys and equipment safely and sensibly Play ball games Talk about how your body feels after running and jumping (hot, heart beating faster?) Make some playdough (we can give you a recipe) Cut pictures out of old magazines and newspapers This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

6. Literacy Explores books Makes up stories and retells them Learns phonemes (sounds) to enable them to read by decoding texts Writes for different purposes Act out a story for others in your family to watch Reading different types of materials; newspapers, magazines and comics Read poemsand rhymes Write shopping lists, poems or short stories This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

7. Mathematics Solves problems using their own ideas and by working with others Sings number rhymes and counting (in 1’s, 2’s and 5’s) Explores patterns and shapes Identifies and recognises number Play board games like snakes and ladders to practise counting When sorting socks after washing, talk about pairs and patterns you can see Ask your child when you have a problem, e.g. I only have 2 apples but there are 4 of us. What shall we do? Sing some number rhymes, e.g. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, once I caught a fish alive This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

8. Understanding the World Explores the World around them Uses computers, phones, calculators, MP3’s, stereos, TVs and other electrical equipment Enjoys and participates in festivals relating to their own and others cultures Talk to your child about your family, culture and where you live Talk about what you see, hear, smell, taste and touch Ask your child what buttons they think you should press and why when using electrical equipment Look at similarities and differences when walking, in the car or on the bus or train This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

9. Expressive Arts and Design Enjoys messy activities Pretends and role plays things they have seen and experienced Participates in musical and dance activities Talks about models they have made and the reasons behind different parts of the model Let your child help you when you are tidying up Be prepared for your child to act as ‘Miss, Mr or Mrs’ in a game of teachers. Or maybe become a passenger on your child’s train, bus or aeroplane. Use old boxes to make a model – you’ll be surprised what you child will turn into! Keep some of your old clothes, shoes, hats, gloves and bags to make an exciting dressing up box This area of learning relates to how your child: Activities at home

10. What will Timberley do? • Throughout your child’s time in the Foundation Stage at Timberley, they will be given lots of opportunities to play and explore in a safe and secure learning environment. Staff will plan activities/opportunities around the needs and interests of the children. • Parents will be informed of their child’s progress formally (at parent consultations/evenings) and informally. • During their time in Playgroup, between the ages of 2 and 3, you will receive a progress summary about how your child is developing, giving you information about their Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and their Physical Development. • At the end of Nursery and Reception you will receive a full written report informing you of your child’s progress in all areas of learning.

11. What will Timberley do? • In the Summer term, at the end of Reception, staff will complete the EYFS Profile for each child. The profile provides parents/carers and staff with a well rounded picture of a child’s knowledge, understanding and abilities, how they learn and their progress against expected levels. Each child’s level of development will be assessed against the Early Learning Goals. Please click on link below to view these goals http://www.primarytools.co.uk/files/app%20on%20one%20sheet/Early_Learning_Goals_2012_On_One_A4_Sheet_bw.pdf

12. What can you do? • Please look at your child’s learning journal. This gives you a snapshot of what your child can do. • Please tell us about any ‘WOW’ moments your child has shown at home, e.g. writing their name independently, doing their own zip up or sleeping through the night. Remember you are your child’s first teacher! • Please talk to your key worker, family group leader or class teacher about how you feel your child is learning and developing. • We want to work in partnership with you!

13. Come and visit us! Timberley Academy Bradley Road Shard End Birmingham B34 7RL Tel: 0121 464 2002