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Foundation Stage

The Foundation Stage is the first stage of the National Curriculum focusing on the distinct needs of children aged three to the end of the reception year. The Foundation Stage is delivered in a range of settings and many children will attend more than one setting during this stage. In County Durham providers include pre-schools, playgroups, day nurseries, nursery and reception classes in primary schools and nursery schools. The Foundation Stage is supported by national and local guidance materials which support learning across the curriculum.
There are six areas of learning.

These are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development : Children are encouraged to develop positive attitude and dispositions towards their learning, develop social skills, attention skills and persistence

Communication, Language and Literacy : This aims to give children opportunities to talk and communicate in a wide range of situations and to listen carefully to others. It also includes helping children to experience and enjoy stories and rhymes and to use mark making as part of their play

Mathematical Development : All children will have the opportunities to develop their understanding of number, measurement , patterns, shape and space through activities in which they can explore these concepts through play

Knowledge and Understanding of the World : Opportunities are given for children to investigate, solve problems, experiment and explore the world around them

Physical Development : All children will have opportunities to practice fine gross motor skills and to increase their bodies work and what they need to do to be healthy and safe

Creative Development : Opportunities are given for children to explore and experiment with a variety of art materials, music, role play and movement. Creativity is not about pleasing adults or producing adult-determined art, music or dance.

All settings and schools that receive grant funding for the education of children aged three to five years are required to plan activities and experiences that help children make progress in their development and learning. They are also required to monitor progress in the Foundation Stage in order to ensure that children are making progress and to identify difficulties in the areas of learning. Individual progress is monitored throughout the Foundation Stage and this informs the completion of the Foundation Stage Profile at the end of the reception year.