Early Years Foundation
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets the standards for learning, development, and care for all children from birth to five years old. It recognises that every child deserves the best possible start in life and the right support to help them reach their full potential.
Child Led Approach
At Smiley Faces, we follow the EYFS framework through a child-led approach to learning. This means we plan around each child’s individual interests and abilities, allowing them to learn, explore, and challenge themselves in meaningful ways. Our skilled and experienced practitioners provide the right balance of guidance and freedom, helping children build confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of learning.
The EYFS is made up of seven areas of learning and development, which together shape our educational programme.
The Three Prime Areas
These areas form the foundation for children’s learning and future progress:
Communication and Language
We support children in developing their speech, listening, and understanding through stories, songs, conversations, and play. Every child is encouraged to express themselves and build confidence in communicating with others.
Physical Development
Through active play, outdoor exploration, and fine motor activities, we help children strengthen their coordination, balance, and control. We also promote healthy habits, such as good hygiene, nutrition, and self-care.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
We nurture children’s confidence, independence, and emotional well-being. They learn to build friendships, manage emotions, and develop respect and empathy for others, all important life skills that support their future learning.
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The Four Specific Areas
As children grow, these areas build upon the prime areas to help broaden their experiences and understanding of the world:
- Literacy
Children are introduced to early reading and writing through stories, mark-making, phonics, and imaginative play, fostering a love of books and storytelling from an early age. - Mathematics
Through hands-on play and real-life experiences, we develop children’s understanding of numbers, patterns and shapes helping them see that maths is everywhere around them. - Understanding the World
We encourage curiosity about the world by exploring nature, people, communities, and technology. Children learn about similarities and differences and gain an awareness of the wider world around them. - Expressive Arts and Design
Creativity is celebrated every day at Smiley Faces. Children express themselves through music, dance, role play, art and design developing imagination and problem solving skills in fun and engaging ways.
NELI (Nuffield Early Language Intervention)
The NELI programme provides us with a way of identifying oral language difficulties and is proven to improve children’s language skills and behaviour.
The programme builds children’s vocabulary, listening and storytelling skills through targeted small group and individual sessions.
We share the related activities with parents to support their child at home.
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Our Childcare Rooms
Our warm, homely environment provides the perfect place for children to explore, play, and grow alongside friends their own age.
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Contact us to learn more about our baby room and baby care in Peterborough.
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