Our Early Years Foundation stage consists of two small classes (Ladybird and Bublembee), which share a large open plan classroom space. In the EYFS at Langafel we observe and engage with our children to enable learning to take place through topics which are relevant to the children’s interests. This ensures maximum engagement from the children. 

Learning within the foundation stage takes place through short whole class sessions, small group sessions and through child-initiated learning where the children develop their confidence and ability to be independent learners whilst making choices about how and what they learn and engage in. 

We track and celebrate our children’s learning and progress using the Anna Ephgrave Learning in the Moment approach, as supported by Polly Sharman. We believe in focus children as opposed to focus tasks. Each week, children are selected at random to be focus children for the week, as teachers we will support and extend these children’s learning and record this appropriately. 

We encourage parental involvement by inviting parents to attend ‘stay and play’ and story sessions throughout the year allowing you to be an active partner in your child’s EYFS learning Journey. We also send home weekly Home Learning Journals to bridge the gap between home and school. 

In Early Years the children take part in a once weekly Bikeability sessions in addition to developing their physical skills as part of their child initiated learning each day. 

The children also participate in a once weekly forest school sessions, which fit in perfectly with the over-arching themes and principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum that we follow. It allows the children to develop their confidence and independence and to learn to take and manage risk in a safe environment. 

If you would like to know more about the components of the curriculum the children follow then the full government documents for both the statutory and non-statutory elements can be accessed here by clicking the links: 

Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Guidance overview: Development Matters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

From September 2021 all children in the UK complete the Reception Baseline Assessment within the first 6 weeks of starting school. This consists of a series of yes/no answer questions and is completed on an individual basis with the class teacher.