As part of the English National Curriculum (ENC), the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum sets standards for your child's learning, development, and care from birth to 5 years old. At La Côte International School Aubonne, this balanced and varied programme prepares our youngest learners aged 3-5 for their future education by developing skills, interests, self-esteem and confidence.
Child-Led-Learning and In The Moment Planning (ITMP)
Child-led learning allows students to learn at their own pace, inspired by their interests, and furthered by In The Moment Planning (ITMP). This method increases students' engagement and enhances learning outcomes. Their individual needs and development are monitored and assessed by our experienced, specialist teachers.
Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
The EYFS sets the standards that all early years providers must meet to ensure children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. The program promotes the teaching and learning of classroom skills and knowledge that ensure a child's readiness for Primary school and lay a solid foundation for future success in school and life.
The EYFS seeks to provide:
- quality and consistency in all early years settings, so that every child makes good progress and no child gets left behind;
- a secure foundation through learning and development opportunities which are planned around the needs and interests of each child and are assessed and reviewed regularly;
- partnership working between practitioners and with parents and/or carers;
- equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practice, ensuring that every child is included and supported
Four principles of the EYFS
The EYFS is based on four essential principles that shape our practice at La Côte International School Aubonne.
- A unique child Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident, and self-assured.
- Positive relationships Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
- Enabling environments Children learn well in enabling environments in which their experiences respond to their individual needs, and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents/carers.
- Learning and development Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years settings, including children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Seven areas of Early Years learning
Within the learning and development principle of EYFS, seven learning areas shape the educational programme at La Côte International School Aubonne. These seven areas are split between prime and specific areas of learning.
The three prime areas are:
- Communication and Language Development gives children opportunities to speak and listen in a range of situations and to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves.
- Physical Development provides opportunities for young children to be active and to develop their coordination, control, and movement. Children are helped to understand the importance of physical activity and make healthy food choices.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development provides a platform for children to develop a positive sense of themselves and others. Children are encouraged to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups, and to have confidence in their abilities.
The four specific areas are:
- Literacy Development encourages children to read and write, both through listening to others reading and beginning to read and write themselves. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials – books, poems, and other written materials, to ignite their interest.
- Mathematics provides children with opportunities to practise and improve their skills in counting, simple additions and subtractions. They also learn to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.
- Understanding the World guides children to make sense of their physical world and community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology, and the environment.
- Expressive Arts and Design supports children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials and provides opportunities and encouragement to share their thoughts, ideas, and feelings through art, music, movement, dance, role-play, design, and technology activities.
