EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE
“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential”
(Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage 2021)
THE BEST FOR EVERY CHILD
At Al Rabeeh Academy we recognise each child as a unique individual with the potential to achieve.
PARENT PARTNERSHIP
A positive and meaningful relationship with our parents is highly valued. Our parents are encouraged to take an active role in their child’s learning. Parent and Teacher Partnerships drive effective planning, teaching and learning. Our parents are reassured to know that the Early Years Team prioritises the safety, happiness and welfare of the child.
TEACHING, LEARNING and ASSESSMENT
In Early Years, the Statutory Early Years Foundation Stage Framework 2022 is followed. This Framework, together with the guidance of the Development Matters Document, enables all the FS1 and FS2 teachers to effectively deliver our bespoke, Al Rabeeh Early Years Curriculum. The Early Years Curriculum is inclusive of personal elements that particularly meet the needs of all our Al Rabeeh Early Years children. The FS curriculum builds upon the children’s strengths, highlighting areas for development and enabling exceptional progress at year end.
The delivery of all our learning is through the Curiosity Approach, a well recognised and successful pedagogy in many Outstanding OFSTED accredited Early Years settings.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is a two-year phase which consists of Foundation Stage One (FS1 ages 3-4) and Foundation Stage Two (FS2 ages 4-5).
Children are taught predominantly by their classroom teacher and receive specialist lessons in Arabic, Islamic Studies and PE.
The curriculum is divided into seven areas of learning. The seven areas of learning are explored in a rich, engaging and varied environment that supports children playing and exploring; encourages children to become involved in active learning whilst also exposing children to thinking critically and creatively. Our children have the opportunity to take risks, solve problems and become independent learners.
We observe our children daily through their play, taking particular notice of their individual interests. Our children learn skills, acquire knowledge and demonstrate understanding through a carefully constructed play-based curriculum. We understand that play is an essential part of healthy brain development.
Teachers use the online platform Seesaw to upload regular evidence of children at play, children completing independent tasks or children engaged in more focused learning. All parents are able to access the Seesaw platform to share in their child’s learning journey.
Academic Review Days are opportunities for parents to meet with teachers about their child’s attainment and progress. These opportunities happen twice a year. At the end of FS1 we celebrate the child’s learning with the parents. Parents are invited to a FS1 sing-a long performance. End of year academic reports are posted and then accessed via the parent online portal, Engage.
At the end of FS2, all children would have completed the second year of their Early Years learning journey in preparation for Year 1 and the British National Curriculum.
Early Learning Goals
The FS2 children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals at year end. Children meeting the age expected outcomes will be assessed as Expected.
Children who are assessed and do not meet the age expected outcomes will be assessed as Emerging. Opportunity is given during the transition time in Year One to work towards attaining the Expected Early Learning Goal.
FS2 Parents will be invited to the FS2 Graduation Morning where their child will receive a graduation certificate. The final FS2 academic reports will be posted and then accessed via the online parent portal, Engage.
“When we give every child the best start in their early years, we give them what they need today. We also set them up with every chance of success tomorrow.”
We recognise that children are on a continuous learning journey and every child’s learning takes a unique, personal path based on their own interests and learning needs. The individual needs of each child are key to the success in their development. Regular assessments throughout the day inform the teachers of what each child can do and instruct future planning to reflect the next steps in each child’s development.
At Al Rabeeh Academy, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework in which children’s learning and development is split into seven key areas. In EYFS we do not separate learning into different subjects as each aspect of the curriculum is interrelated and interdependent. These seven areas of learning underpin our planning and resourcing
Assessment
Children in the Early Years are assessed everyday through informed observations of their play. These observations are documented and shared with parents on Seesaw (online learning journey platform). The observations inform the child’s developmental appropriate next steps and support the teacher to implement suitable challenges so each child can achieve at their own pace.
Children are encouraged to use De Bono’s Thinking hats to reflect and assess their own learning.
Baseline assessments are completed at the start of the academic year focussing on the seven areas of learning: Physical Social Emotional Development, Physical Development, Communication and Language, Mathematics, Literacy, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
At the end of FS2 children are assessed against the Early Learning Goals.
We recognise that each child is a curious, unique individual and we aim to spark awe and wonder into all learning opportunities.