The Foundation Stage

´              What is the Foundation Stage?

The Foundation Stage is the period of education from age three to five. The first part of the stage begins in nursery and the latter stage begins and ends in the Reception year.

´          Why is it important?

The Foundation Stage is vitally important as it gives children the essential foundations required for later learning. It is important that children experience enjoyable and satisfying activities as these affect their attitude to learning. They create the basis for later learning both in school and beyond.

´              What’s new about it?

This distinct stage has it’s own ‘early learning goals’ which are separated into six key areas. The majority of children will be able to reach these goals by the end of the Foundation Stage, though some will have gone beyond and some might not quite have got there. Work and play related to these goals prepares the children for the National Curriculum Key Stage 1.

´              What are the goals?

There are six main areas of young children’s learning and development. They comprise of:

J     Personal, social and emotional development.

The goals in this area relate to confidence building, increasing independence, learning to concentrate and enjoying sharing with groups of peers.

An example of one of these goals is:

 ‘to form good relationships with adults and peers.’

&     Communication, language and literacy.

This area deals with developing communication skills between peers and adults ie developing speaking and listening skills. It also covers all aspects of developing reading and writing skills.

    An example of one of these goals is:

‘ distinguish one sound from another.'

Œ          Mathematical development.

The goals in this area relate to ideas associated with number, quantity, measurement, shape and space.

An example of one of these goals is:

'to show an interest in numbers and counting.'

ý   Knowledge and understanding of the world.

This wide area includes aspects of history, geography, design and technology and ICT. It encourages investigation, finding out about things, places and people around them.

An example of one of these goals is:

'to examine objects and living things to find out more about them.'

†   Physical development.

The goals in this area relate to improving control and co-ordination of their bodies whilst learning to move and handle all kinds of equipment.

An example of one of these goals is:

'to move with control and co-ordination.'

#   Creative development.

This area covers aspects of music, art and drama. It encourages ways of communicating using colour, shape, sound, texture, movement and stories.

An example of a goal is:

'to use their imagination in art and design, music, dance, imaginative and role play and stories.'