September 2012
From September there will be a new curriculum in place for the Early Years Foundation Stage.
This letter is a summary of the changes, however, there is a detailed guide to the new EYFS on The
Ark Website (www.thearkpreschool.org.uk) and the link will be at the bottom of this letter.
The staff at The Ark Pre-school will follow a cycle to review progress and adapt plans to enable your
own unique child to learn and develop effectively.
OBSERVATION
PLANNING
The
Child
ASSESSMENT
Observation: Observe children in everyday activities and planned activities, and learn from
parents/ carers about what your child does at home.
Assessment: Analysing observations and deciding what they tell us about your child.
Identifying where your child may be in their own developmental pathway.
Planning: What next? Consider ways to support your child to strengthen their current
learning and development. Where possible challenge and extend your child’s current
learning and development.
A progress review is completed at two points in the EYFS and a summary shared with parents:
 In the prime areas between the ages of 24 and 36 months, sharing information with Health
Visitors
 At the end of the EYFS in the EYFS profile
Children will learn and develop their understanding of the world through playing and exploring,
active learning, and creating and thinking critically. At the Ark Pre-school we will do this through a
combination of adult-led and child-led activities.
Characteristics of Effective Learning
Playing and exploring –
engagement
Finding out and exploring
Playing with what they know
Being willing to ‘have a go’
Active learning - motivation
Being involved and
concentrating
Keeping trying
Enjoying achieving what
they set out to do
Creating and thinking critically thinking
Having their own ideas
Making links
Choosing way to do things
There will be 3 prime areas, and 4 specific areas of learning:
Area of Learning and Development
Prime Areas
Emotional, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Communication and Language
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Aspect
Making Relationships
Self-confidence and selfawareness
Managing feelings and
behaviour
Moving and handling
Health and self-care
Listening and attention
Understanding
Speaking
Reading
Writing
Numbers
Shapes, space and measure
People and communities
The World
Technology
Exploring and using media
and materials
Being imaginative
As all children learn at different rates and in their own ways, we always consider every child as a
UNIQUE CHILD. Your child’s progress will be reviewed and all planning will be evaluated according to
the progress, strengths and interests of each individual child, so to assist their motivation to learn.
We ask you to complete a form on a half-termly basis to give information on the recent and ongoing
activities and interests, which assists our planning, and is added to their Learning Journal. We will
also have termly meetings with parents to see the latest comments and observations in your child’s
Learning Journal. In addition to this, we welcome discussion and feedback at any time either at the
beginning or end of a session.
If you have any questions, or require further information on the new EYFS curriculum please ask a
member of staff. There is also a guide for parents online at:
http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/early-years-foundation-stage-2012/