Early Years Foundation Stage

 

At Puddleducks we also follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework which has been developed for children from birth to five and is now mandatory for all Ofsted registered childcare providers.  This framework places more emphasis on play based learning, the individual child’s unique way of learning and the rate at which they learn.  These ideas are very familiar to Montessorians.


The EYFS does include certain learning and development requirements and goals which are organised within six areas of learning.  Children are expected to reach these goals by the end of the EYFS i.e. the end of the reception year of their education. These six areas are as follows:

 

  1. Personal, social and emotional development which relates to the development of confidence and independence, concentration and learning how to enjoy sharing as part of a group.

    2.  

  2. Communication, language and literacy development which covers communication with one another and developing skills in talking, listening, writing and reading.

    3.  

  3. Mathematical development which relates to using ideas about number, quantity, measurement, shape and space.

    4.  

  4. Knowledge and understanding of the world which covers investigating and beginning to understand the things, places and people around them.

    5.  

  5. Physical development which relates to improving control and co-ordination of the body while learning to move and to handle equipment.

    6.  

  6. Creative development which covers finding out about ways to communicate using colour, shape, sound, texture, movement and stories.

 

As you can see, the Montessori curriculum includes and expands on these areas of learning.  Whilst we identify and qualify our activities according to these goals, we would like to emphasise that we are fully committed to the Montessori philosophy and approach to learning and development and will endeavour to meet the requirements of the EYFS without compromising our principles.