At Hungry Caterpillars we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) which sets the criteria for learning, development and the care of children from birth to 5 years old. As an Ofsted registered provider we are required to follow the EYFS in all of our nurseries.
The EYFS supports an integrated approach to learning and care at this crucial stage and provides the foundations for all future learning and success. In addition it gives our practitioners a set of shared principles and commitments that assists them in delivering the very best early years education and experiences for children. It is well researched that the experiences and opportunities a child has in the early years has a huge impact on their future achievement.
At Hungry Caterpillar we endeavor to make sure that all early years’ experiences are fun, stimulating, relevant and supporting of each child’s individual learning and development. In addition we aim to put an emphasis on your role, as parents, in helping your child develop and succeed.
The EYFS is split into two main areas:
The Prime Areas are:
Communication & Language, Personal Social and Emotional Development & Physical Development These prime areas have been seen as the foundations and the most essential for your child’s healthy development. As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas.
The Specific Areas are:
Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design & Literacy At Hungry Caterpillar we take these seven areas and use them to plan for your child’s learning opportunities and activities. The EYFS allows children to learn by playing and exploring, being active and through creative and critical thinking which takes place indoors and outside in a variety of exciting ways.To read more about the Early Years Foundation Stage please visit www.foundationyears.org.uk or speak to our nursery manager who will be happy to show you more about how children learn.