Early Years (EYFS)

Choosing your first school for your child is a big decision. We believe that a safe, secure and happy environment is critical during the early stages of development. EYFS provides the foundations for each child to begin their academic journey.

At SABS we aim to instil a love of learning into your already curious child by providing new opportunities and experiences and considering their interests as an individual. We understand that every child is different and will develop and learn in different ways and at different speeds.

Teaching and learning at this stage is mostly through play, children have the freedom to choose from purposeful games and activities, linked to the topics being taught in class. Teachers lead some activities and small group sessions and are always on hand to provide guidance and encouragement.

What is necessary for effective learning?

Effective learning involves three key areas, playing and exploring, active learning and creating and critical thinking, which are covered under the EYFS curriculum and goals set by teachers.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)?

EYFS stands for Early Years Foundation Stage. It includes all child development from birth to the end of Reception. The EYFS curriculum describes how teachers should work with children and parents to support development and learning. The curriculum is developed by the Department for Education in the UK.

https://www.gov.uk/early-years-foundation-stage

SABS welcomes children from 1 year old into their EYFS.
Pre-Nursery Age 1-2 years
Nursery Age 2-3 years
Reception 3-4 years

How is my child helped to move on to Reception?

We have a strong link between Nursery and Reception, children in Nursery begin the year with structured play and move towards more formal work. In Reception children have more structured work with opportunities to choose related activities, preparing them for Year 1.

Early learning goals

SABS EYFS safe, nurturing and stimulating environment provides the perfect setting for children to begin the first stages of their learning journey.

The Early Learning Goals were devised by the UK School Curriculum known as the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

Through organised play and fun teacher-led activities, your child will cover the seven areas that constitute the Early Learning Goals. These are:

• Communication and language
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Personal, Social, Emotional Development
• Expressive Art and Design
• Physical Development

Communication and Language

We ensure that children are able to reach all of the assessment criteria:

• Listening and paying attention.
• Understanding.
• Speaking skills.

We recognise that communication and language are probably the most important aspects in early years, especially for children learning English as a second language. Through play and careful modelling of language we offer opportunities for children to develop new vocabulary and communication. We also help children to become good listeners, expanding their attention.

Being an effective communicator is key to developing friendships, understanding, expressing feelings, needs and emotions. We encourage the children to initiate discussions – giving them a chance to connect to the world around them.

Literacy

This area focuses on developing early literacy skills. Through stimulating and fun activities, children develop their reading and writing skills, as well as learn how to communicate effectively. Writing begins in Pre-nursery and nursery as mark making, allowing children to express themselves with pencils, wax crayons, chalk, felt pens and various sizes and shapes of paper, to writing in sand, paint and the air. All attempts at early writing are celebrated as an achievement. Later in Nursery and Reception mark making leads to learning the more formal formation of letters, numbers and symbols.
In EYFS, we use storytelling, nursery rhymes, poems, counting games and finger rhymes to encourage listening and interaction in order to develop concentration, attention and participation skills.

Listening to stories and reading books encourages conversation, helping to build your child’s self-confidence. We teach them to listen to others and share their own thoughts in order to develop their speaking skills and vocabulary.
As well as stories and books, we use all sort of activities to develop your child’s pre-reading skills. This is supported through our use of the (Phonics programme name Letters and Sounds approach to learning phonics. We use a variety of activities to help your child to familiarise themselves with sounding out and writing their own name, such as word jigsaws, activities and games to support your child’s acquisition of all their sounds.

Mathematics

Games and activities play a key role in developing mathematical understanding and problem solving. Maths is taught through engaging play activities including counting, number rhymes, recognising numerals, developing mathematical vocabulary through stories, measuring and recognising patterns and shapes.

By using everyday objects, we encourage your child to explore ordering, matching, sorting and recreating patterns. Before long, your child’s use of mathematical language will develop, along with their ability to add and subtract and perform numerous mathematical tasks. In addition, your child will be able to use mathematics to solve both real and theoretical problems.

Expressive art and design

Expressive Art & Design aims to develop your child’s creativity and self-expression through exploration, imagination, media and materials. Activities, including art, music, dance, play and stories, will unleash your child’s creativity and imagination as they discover the amazing world of colour, sound, texture, shape and form around them.
To encourage self-expression in art, we use a variety of materials and techniques such as drawing, painting, sticking, model-making and printing.

As music is a great way for your child to discover sound, we actively encourage learning through many forms of music. From listening, movement, performing and improvisation, to singing and music-making.

SABS EYFS is all about inspiration and engagement through imaginative play and learning opportunities, In each classroom you will find the home corner which is regularly changed into different real life environments, including a vets, cafe, hospital, space station, jungle and even a beauty salon to stimulate your child’s imagination and encourage interaction with other children.

Understanding the world

Understanding the World aims to develop your child’s understanding of people, communities, technology and the world itself.

Through engaging activities and games, your child will develop a wide understanding of the how, what, why, when and where of our world, whilst exploring design and technology, science, history, geography and computing.
Activities encourage children to explore, discover, understand and share their findings through their natural curiosity to question their surroundings and the world beyond.

Our large outdoor spaces and garden provide a practical experience in science and nature at work. From experiencing the changing seasons and various weather conditions to playing with water and sand.
In preparation for Design technology the children learn basic skills such as folding, cutting, joining and building, plus there are great opportunities for growing, preparing and tasting food.

Using tablets, beebots and computers we can familiarise your child with the digital age with fun and educational software. Helping them to discover the important role technology plays in today’s world.

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Our EYFS is a safe environment which is pivotal in your child’s personal, social and emotional development. Teaching them to manage their feelings and form friendships and relationships with those around them whilst building their confidence and self-esteem.

Developing independence is achieved in a number of ways in EYFS. Starting with small steps at first, your child is given their own peg, identifiable with their name and photo, to hang their coat on. They’re also encouraged to put on their own coats. As their confidence and need for independence grows, they are further encouraged to make decisions of their own, such as choosing activities.

At lunch times children are encouraged to practise skills such as the importance of manners and how to use appropriate infant-sized cutlery correctly.

Our Early years is also where they will learn Personal, Social, Health Education (PSHE) which looks at friendship, healthy living, safety, personal and emotional development and physical development, as well as respect for one self, others and the world around them. This will continue to be part of the learning process throughout their SABS education, right up until Secondary School.

Physical Development

Physical Development aims to develop your child’s movement and handling skills, as well as their health and self-care.
EYFS provides a safe and fun environment for a multitude of indoor activities that help to develop hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, agility and motor skills. Physical education promotes the importance of sharing toys and equipment.

This includes playing with play dough, clay, water and sand, and expressing themselves with chalk, paint, pencils, felt pens and crayons.

Outdoors, our grounds include a large dedicated playground area where children can play together, whilst developing their spatial awareness and learning about respecting the personal space of others.

The outdoor area is equipped with ride-on toys, climbing apparatus and balls for practising throwing and kicking techniques.

Music and movement are also important and include fun activities such as exercise to music and rhymes, helping to develop movement control and rhythm.

In Early Years, children also have the opportunity to go swimming; pool activities and playing such as playing with toys and floats allow them to experience water, gain confidence and develop muscle control.

TOPICS

Each term the three year groups in EYFS follow different themes to base their learning around. The following are the topics for EYFS:

Our daily routine

Pre-Nursery and Nursery welcome children at 8.50 and the fun begins with some free-flow play until we settle down at 9:00am. When we either get creative with art materials or explore exciting sensory activities. We have a small group time, where we look at our chosen book and do some singing.

Then it is time for our morning walk around the grounds, where we encourage the children to observe the ever-changing environment.

Everything stops for lunch at 12.00 (Prenursery) and 12.30 (Nursery and Reception) and then the PreNursery and

Reception children go for a sleep from 13.00 until 15.00.

Our afternoons resume with quiet time and sharing books. Puzzles, games and construction fill the time, as well as playtime in the outdoor area.

At 4:00pm, PreNursery have a picnic of healthy finger food snacks and then it is time for more play. This usually involves listening to and making music, dancing, and building on our gross-motor skills using the walkers and large bouncy balls. We finish with a story, until they are collected at 5:00pm.

Spanish in EYFS

In Reception children have a daily Spanish lesson with a specialist native Spanish teacher. At this stage the focus is on communication in Spanish and forms of expression. Children begin to learn how to read in Spanish.

Children are introduced to writing in Spanish. They begin by observing writing, watching family and teachers and seeing the written word in their surroundings.

Through games and play we create a learning environment which encourages children to express themselves confidently, developing their self-esteem and social integration.

Children relate ideas based on their knowledge and understanding of the world around them. Stories are based on their children’s interests and aim to stimulate children’s imagination, concentration and freedom of expression.

The Reception level (3-4 years) helps to develop communicative skills in Spanish and its forms of expression. They begin to learn to read and write by observing and exploring their family, natural and social environment. We constantly resort to play, creating an atmosphere of affection and confidence, thus strengthening their self-esteem and social integration.

At this stage of infant education the pupil acquires the ability to relate ideas based on all the resources and knowledge provided in the classroom. The promotion of reading is a focus of interest from the beginning in order to stimulate their imagination, concentration and freedom of expression.

Trips

Throughout the year, EYFS have some small field trips and visitors. School trips are unique opportunities for kinaesthetic learning (learning by doing) and encourage children to engage with people, places and buildings in new ways.

At SABS children from 2 – 4 years old participate in the EYFS school trips which can include:

• Theatre visit (Animal fair).
• Story farm.
• Picnic.
• Trip to Faunia natural park.

*All trips are subject to weather and availability and can be changed an email is sent with the academic year plan.

Observations and Assessment

We use a variety of strategies for assessing the children’s progress. Ongoing assessment takes place in a variety of ways which include, questioning, written tasks, oral presentations, group work, and practical activities.

The main way we observe and assess children is through a platform called Tapestry. Tapestry is an easy to use and secure online learning journal which allows staff and families to celebrate their child’s learning and development. Tapestry builds a very special record of your child’s experiences and development through their early year’s education.

All parents receive a log-in which allows them to see photos of the children’s weekly activities.

In Reception, the children have their first formal assessment in the form of a phonics screening, where the teacher checks to see which phonics the child knows, in order to prepare them to begin primary school.

Extra –Curricular Activities

After school there are lots of extra-curricular activities which children can join in with, which are a great opportunity for children to mix with different classes and ages and to try to learn new skills outside of the curriculum.

For children in EYFS the following activities are available (Link a landing de actividades extraescolares).