Early Years Foundation Stage
Early childhood is the foundation on which children build the rest of their lives. At Wallscourt Farm Academy we greatly value the important role that the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) plays in laying secure foundations for future learning and development, however we also believe early childhood is valid in itself, as a part of life. It is important to view the EYFS as preparation for life and not simply preparation for the next stage of education. The EYFS applies to children from birth to the end of the reception year.
At Wallscourt Farm Academy, the EYFS applies to children joining us at the beginning of the school year in which they are five and consists of two classes in Oak Learning Zone.
The Curriculum
Our curriculum is carefully structured to provide opportunities for learners to learn through planned, purposeful play in all areas of learning and development in the indoor and outdoor environment. Some learning is led by adults and some by the learners themselves. Appropriate intervention by practitioners supports learners to engage in the learning process and extend their learning.
Our curriculum enables learners to learn and develop skills, attitudes and understanding in these areas of learning. During the EYFS we introduce the language of states of being enabling learners to think of and describe themselves as Authors, Mathematicians, Scientists, etc. This enables learners to develop a sense of self and an awareness of their place in the world.
The Prime Areas:
Communication and Language
Physical Development
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
The Specific Areas:
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Achievement of these prime and specific areas of learning is by;
- Playing and exploring
- Active learning
- Creating and thinking critically
The Learning Environment – The Environment as the third teacher
We recognise that the environment plays a key role in supporting and extending learner’s development that the use of resources and the environment needs to be carefully planned. We aim to create an attractive, welcoming and stimulating learning environment which will encourage children to explore, investigate and learn through first-hand experience. We also aim to make it a place where learners feel secure and confident, and are challenged to develop their independence. Learners have the freedom to move between the indoor and outdoor learning environment throughout the school day.
Learners are encouraged to develop their learning dispositions through characters which later develop into our 21st Century Learning Skills in KS1. We focus on the following characters below.
 Curious Cat: asking questions to develop my understanding |  Teamwork Bee: collaborating with others |  Stickability Tortoise: being resilient even during challenges |
