At Langtoft Primary School, the Foundation Stage is a wonderful and exciting place to have lots of fun, learning through an interactive play based approach - fully supported to progress through the Early Years Foundation Stage. 

We understand that children learn best when they are absorbed, interested and active. Play is essential for children’s development across all areas. It builds children’s confidence as they learn to explore, to relate to others around them and develop relationships, set their own goals and solve problems. Children learn by leading their own play and by taking part in play which is guided by adults. We understand the importance of stimulating the children’s interests, responding to each child’s emerging needs and guiding their development through warm, positive relationships coupled with secure routines for play and learning.

At Langtoft Primary School, we believe that all children deserve to have equal chance of success and all children will receive high-quality care. Our provision is inclusive. Children’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are identified quickly and all children promptly receive any extra help they need to enable them to progress well in their learning.

During the Reception year we focus on teaching the essential skills and knowledge in the specific areas of learning to ensure the children are ready for their journey into Year 1. We know that children learn through play, by adults modelling, by observing each other and through guided learning and direct teaching. Careful sequencing of our curriculum will help children build their learning over time. We ensure that all children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe at all times.

The Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, changes to which came into effect in September 2020, is a statutory framework which sets out the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well, ensures children are kept healthy and safe and have the knowledge and skills needed. It is supported by the Development Matters document which details how children develop and learn. 

The DfE have produced a comprehensive guide for parents which you may find useful:

What to Expect in the Early Years Foundation Stage - Guide for Parents. 

Overarching Principles

Four guiding principles shape our practice in the early years. These are:

• every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
• children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
• children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
• importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates.

Three Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning:

• Playing and exploring: - Children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.
• Active learning: - Children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties. They are proud of their own achievements. For children to develop into self-regulating, lifelong learners they are required to take ownership, accept challenges and learn persistence.
• Creating and thinking critically: - Children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas and develop strategies for doing things.