Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

All children deserve the care and support they need to have the best start in life. Children learn and develop at a faster rate from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives, so their experiences in early years have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe, and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and highquality early learning provide the foundation children need to fulfil their potential.

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (July 2026)

At Hullavington CofE Primary and Nursery School, all teaching staff deliver the EYFS through high quality teaching alongside an enriched learning environment. Our philosophy is to nurture every child’s enthusiasm for learning, developing both skills and confidence as they take their first steps on their own unique journey of lifelong learning. 

The EYFS is based on four guiding principles, these principles shape the practice in the Early Years Foundation Stage here at Hullavington.

 These principles are: 

• Every child is a unique child, who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable,      confident, and self-assured
• Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships.
• Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
•  Importance of learning and development. Children develop and learn at different rates

Curriculum

We aim to provide a curriculum that is ambitious and responsive to children's individual starting points, developmental needs and interests. Through our curriculum, we aim to:

• Make children's first experiences of school happy, positive and fun.

• Provide a rich, interesting and stimulating learning environment that encourages exploration, creativity and independence.

• Foster a love of learning and develop enquiring minds.

• Promote children's emotional wellbeing and confidence.

• Build positive relationships and work in partnership with families.

• Support children's development across all seven areas of the EYFS.

• Recognise and celebrate every child as an individual, ensuring that all children are supported to achieve their potential.

The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning and development. These are interconnected and together provide the foundations for children's future learning.

The three prime areas are:

• Communication and Language

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development

• Physical Development

The four specific areas are:

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the World

• Expressive Arts and Design

Teaching and Learning

We recognise that young children learn in different ways and at different rates. Our approach combines high-quality adult-led teaching with opportunities for children to learn through purposeful play, exploration and discovery.

Our practitioners carefully plan engaging experiences which build on children's interests and introduce new knowledge, vocabulary and skills. Through meaningful interactions, questioning and encouragement, adults support children to develop their thinking, make connections and become increasingly independent learners.

Our indoor and outdoor environments provide a wealth of opportunities for children to explore, investigate, create and practise their developing skills. We make the most of our extensive school grounds, giving children opportunities to learn through first-hand experiences and develop an appreciation of the natural world.

The Seven Areas of Learning

Communication and Language

Communication and language underpin all areas of children's learning and development. We provide a language-rich environment where children are encouraged to listen, talk, share ideas, ask questions and express themselves.

Through stories, songs, rhymes, conversations and everyday interactions, we develop children's listening skills, understanding and vocabulary. Adults model language and provide meaningful opportunities for children to become confident communicators.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

We want every child to feel happy, secure and valued. Through positive relationships and everyday experiences, children learn to develop friendships, cooperate with others and understand and manage their emotions.

We encourage children to develop confidence, independence and resilience, supporting them to make choices, try new things and persevere when faced with challenges.

Physical Development

Children have many opportunities to develop their gross and fine motor skills, coordination, balance and control. Our indoor and outdoor environments encourage children to move, climb, explore and develop their physical confidence.

Through activities such as drawing, painting, construction and creative play, children also develop the fine motor skills needed for everyday tasks and early writing. We encourage children to develop healthy habits and increasing independence in looking after themselves.

Literacy

We aim to develop a love of books, stories and reading from the very beginning of children's learning journey. Children enjoy a wide range of high-quality stories, rhymes, poems and non-fiction texts, developing their imagination, vocabulary and understanding of language.

Through daily phonics teaching, storytelling and opportunities to write for different purposes, children develop the early skills they need to become confident readers and writers. Mark-making, drawing and writing are encouraged throughout the learning environment.

Mathematics

We want children to develop a positive attitude towards mathematics and enjoy exploring numbers, patterns and relationships. Through adult-led teaching, practical activities and purposeful play, children develop their understanding of number, shape, space and measure.

We use practical resources, visual representations and manipulatives to help children develop a secure understanding of mathematical concepts and become confident in applying their skills to solve problems.

Understanding the World

Children are naturally curious about the world around them. We provide opportunities for them to explore, investigate and ask questions about people, places, communities and the natural environment.

Our extensive school grounds provide a wonderful resource for outdoor exploration, observing seasonal changes and discovering more about nature. Through stories, discussions and first-hand experiences, children begin to understand the wider world and their place within it.

We encourage children to develop their imagination, creativity and confidence in expressing themselves. Through art, music, dance, role-play, construction and imaginative play, children explore different materials, techniques and ways of creating.

We provide opportunities for children to experiment, develop their own ideas and express their thoughts and feelings through a variety of creative experiences.

Outdoor Learning

We are fortunate to have extensive school grounds which provide wonderful opportunities for children to learn beyond the classroom. Our outdoor environment is an important extension of our indoor provision, encouraging children to explore, investigate, take appropriate risks and develop their physical confidence.

Through outdoor learning and Forest School experiences, children develop independence, resilience, teamwork and a greater appreciation of the natural world. They are encouraged to be curious, try new things and learn through first-hand experiences.