The EYFS is based upon four principles:

• 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, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers;
• children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates.

At Chapelford Village Primary School we aim to provide the highest quality care and education for all of our children, thereby giving them a strong foundation for their future learning and well-being.

The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning:

Prime areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Physical Development
• Communication & Language

Specific areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

These areas are delivered throughout the topic and linked closely together. They are equally important and depend on each other. All areas are delivered through a balance of adult led and child initiated activities.

EYFS have their own outdoor area used all year round in all weathers. Being outdoors encourages learning in different ways. It offers the children more opportunities to be creative and explore on a larger scale as well as to be physically active linking the indoors and outdoors together. Children will have opportunity to experience all seven areas of learning whether they decide to learn indoors or outdoors.

We deliver learning for all of the areas through, purposeful play and learning experiences, with a balance of adult-led and child-initiated activities.

“Children’s play reflects their wide ranging and varied interests and preoccupations.

In their play children learn at their highest level.”

Children’s play reflects their wide ranging and varied interests and preoccupations. In their play, children can be inquisitive, creative, questioning and experimental and will learn at their highest level. Playing with their peers is important for children’s development. Through play our children explore and develop learning experiences, which help them make sense of the world. The adults model play and play sensitively with the children fitting in with their plans and ideas. The children are encouraged to try new activities and judge risks for themselves. We talk to them about how we get better at things through effort and practice and that we can all learn when things go wrong. They practice and build up ideas learning how to control themselves and understand the need for rules. They have the opportunity to think creatively alongside other children as well as on their own. Chapelford Village Primary School staff and Governors believe that all individual learning styles should be recognised and honoured in a creative learning environment. The way in which we learn is as important to progress and success as what we learn.

You can find out more information about the Early Years Curriculum and the updated Development Matters document here.

Early Years Documents

Please enjoy a virtual tour of Early Years by clicking the picture below. 

At Chapelford Village we follow the Read Write Inc. phonics scheme starting in EYFS and continuing through Key Stage One.

More information about Read, Write inc. and resources can be found by clicking the icon above

Early in the Academic Year we have a phonics meeting with all new parents to explain how we learn to read in school and some top tips for encouraging a lifelong love of reading at home.

EYFS - Phonics

Handwriting

Handwriting can sometimes be a frustrating thing to learn! But there’s a lot you can do to help. Support your child to get into good habits early and they’ll really benefit later in their school life – and beyond.

How to help at home

Here are some ways you can support your child as they practise their handwriting:

1. Check the pencil grip

Make sure your child adopts the correct pencil grip from the start – it is almost impossible to correct bad habits later. See below for the different stages of pencil grip.

2. Are you sitting comfortably?

When your child is writing, make sure they are sitting comfortably with their feet touching the floor or a footrest. Writing is easier when you have a stable body.

4. Write in the sand

Give your child opportunities to do some non-permanent writing. This takes the pressure off early writers – if their handwriting isn’t perfect, they can just wash or brush it away and start again.

Write in the sand at the beach. Write in the mud at the park. Fill a clear sandwich bag that closes with some washing-up liquid and glitter; get your child to write (gently) on this. Ask your child to write letters or words on your back with their finger – can you guess what it is?

5. Get crafty

Continue to encourage your child to draw, colour, paint, and do crafting activities at home using a range of different materials. These activities all provide opportunities to develop control, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination.

Add some writing to the crafts – can they write with chalk, paint brushes or crayons? Can they make an attractive sign for their door or books?

6. Practice makes perfect

Good handwriting needs lots of practise. Practise handwriting with your child a few times every week – perhaps using the week’s spelling words. This will help

them to develop good habits and strong muscles in their hands (and good spelling). Use special handwriting paper to check the position of each letter.

EYFS Handwriting

Early Years Handwriting

To see what has been happening in Early Years, click on the Twitter logo below!

EYFS Newsletter

Year 6 Buddies

Year 6 have buddied up with our EYFS classes. The Year 6 children have the opportunity to go back to the classroom that their Chapelford journey first began. The buddy system is an important part of our school life. It allows older children to take on some responsibility, whilst giving younger children someone they can look to for support. It promotes friendship and support between older and younger peers which fosters a sense of whole-school community. It is wonderful to see the older children take a supporting role, allowing the Reception children to flourish and grow in confidence. Take a look at some of the activities they do together. 

Year 6 Buddy Activities

Children's teeth

From brushing their first tooth to their first trip to the dentist, here's how to take care of your children's teeth.

A regular teeth-cleaning routine is essential for good dental health. Follow these tips and you can help keep your kids' teeth decay-free.

Toothbrushing tips

It's important to use a fluoride toothpaste, as this helps prevent and control tooth decay.

Children aged up to 3 years

• Start brushing your baby's teeth as soon as the first milk tooth breaks through (usually at around 6 months, but it can be earlier or later).
• Parents or carers should brush the teeth.
• Brush teeth twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and on 1 other occasion.
• Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) unless a dentist advises family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
• Use only a smear of toothpaste.
• Make sure children don't eat or lick toothpaste from the tube.

Children aged 3 to 6 years

• Brush at least twice daily for about 2 minutes with fluoride toothpaste.
• Brush last thing at night before bed and at least on 1 other occasion.
• Parents or carers should brush teeth.
• Use children's fluoride toothpaste containing no less than 1,000ppm of fluoride (check label) unless a dentist advises family toothpaste containing between 1,350ppm and 1,500ppm fluoride.
• Use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste.
• Spit out after brushing and don't rinse - if you rinse, the fluoride won't work as well.

Oral Health

How to help children brush their teeth properly

• Guide your child's hand so they can feel the correct movement.
• Use a mirror to help your child see exactly where the brush is cleaning their teeth.
• Make tooth brushing as fun as possible by using an egg timer to time it for 2 minutes.
• Don't let children run around with a toothbrush in their mouth, as they ma have an accident and hurt themselves.

Taking your child to the dentist

• NHS dental care for children is free.
• Take your child to the dentist when their first milk teeth appear. This is so they become familiar with the environment and get to know the dentist. The dentist can advise you on how to prevent decay and identify any oral health problems at an early stage. Just opening up the child's mouth for the dentist to take a look at is useful practice for the future.
• When you visit the dentist, be positive about it and make the trip fun. This will stop your child worrying about future visits.
• Take your child for regular dental check-ups as advised by the dentist.

Fluoride varnish and fissure sealants

• Fissure sealants can be done once your child's permanents back teeth have started to come through (usually at the age of 6 and 7) to protect them against decay. This is where the chewing surfaces of the back teeth are covered with a special coating to keep germs and food particles out of the grooves. The sealant can last for as long as 5 and 10 years.
• Fluoride varnish can be applied to both baby teeth and adult teeth. it involves painting a varnish that contains high levels of fluoride onto the surface of the tooth every 6 months to prevent decay. Some children may need this more often. it works by strengthening tooth enamel, making it more resistant to decay.
• From the age of 3, children should be offered fluoride varnish application at least twice a year. Younger children may also be offered this treatment if your dentist thinks they need it.#

Ask you dentist about fluoride varnish or fissure sealing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF5rUAI00mQ