Dagnall Under Fives aims to ensure that each child:
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Is in a safe and stimulating environment.
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Is given generous care and attention, because of our ratio of qualified staff to children, as well as volunteer parent helpers.
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Has the chance to join in with other children and adults to play and learn together.
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Is helped to take forward their learning and development by being helped to build on what they already know and can do.
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Has a personal key worker who makes sure each child makes satisfactory progress to the best of their individual needs.
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Is in a setting that sees parents as partners in helping each child to learn and develop.
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Is in a setting where parents shape the service we offer.
We work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS: 2017) framework, a mandatory set of guidelines that define good practice and development. To find out more on the requirements and our duty of care, please look at....
Our Aims
The EYFS Framework
What is the EYFS Framework?
The EYFS Framework exists to support all professionals working in the EYFS to help your child, and was developed with a number of early years experts and parents.
In 2015 the framework was revised to make it clearer and easier to use, with more focus on the things that matter most. This new framework also has a greater emphasis on your role in helping your child develop.
It sets out:
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The legal welfare requirements that everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare
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The 7 areas of learning and development which guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge
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Assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS
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Expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the reception year; these expectations are called the “Early Learning Goals (ELGs)”
There is also guidance for the professionals supporting your child on planning the learning activities, and observing and assessing what and how your child is learning and developing.
Much thought has been given to making sure that your child is as safe as possible. Within the EYFS there is a set of welfare standards that everyone must follow. These include the numbers of staff required in a nursery, how many children a childminder can look after, and things like administering medicines and carrying out risk assessments.
You can find out about the quality of your child’s nursery and other early years providers in relation to the EYFS Framework by checking what the Government’s official inspection body for early years, Ofsted,has to say about it. You can find this information at www.ofsted.gov.uk/inspection-reports/find-inspection-report.
How my child will be learning?
The EYFS Framework explains how and what your child will be learning to support their healthy development.
Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
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Communication and language;
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Physical development; and
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Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
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Literacy;
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Mathematics;
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Understanding the world; and
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Expressive arts and design.
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. The professionals teaching and supporting your child will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. This is a little bit like a curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it’s suitable for very young children, and it’s designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child’s unique needs and interests.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.