EYFS Curriculum Overview

At Network International School, we welcome students between ages 2 and 4 to join our Foundation 1, 2 and 3 classes at our spacious, well-resourced and friendly Early Years campus. 

Foundation 1, 2 and 3 follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum. A curriculum that is specifically designed to place importance on the development of each unique child through positive relationships and enabling environments. Where play provides the children opportunities to grow in confidence and independence so that they become happy and enthusiastic learners. Where learning is supported by sensitive interactions with adults who observe, listen to and value children’s ideas and interests. Where children develop vital  life skills that underpin their future achievements. 

There are 3 prime plus 4 specific areas of learning and development which are all important and interconnected. These areas comprise the knowledge, skills and experiences that are developmentally appropriate for children from birth to 5 years. These areas feed into all other areas of learning throughout children’s education and careers. 

Prime Areas

Communication and Language

Children experience a rich language environment which develops their confidence and skills to express themselves, understand others, and speak and listen in a range of situations. Communication and language lay the foundation for their learning and development, guiding and supporting children’s thinking while underpinning their emerging literacy.

Physical Development

Each child’s journey relies on whole-body physical experiences. All children are encouraged to be active in both inside and outside environments . They will have opportunities to develop their confidence whilst safely taking risks and strengthening their fine and gross motor skills. Health, wellbeing and self-care are also integral to physical development.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development

It is fundamental to all other aspects of lifelong development and learning, and is key to children’s wellbeing and resilience. Children develop a positive sense of themselves and others; form positive relationships and gain respect for others. They develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Specific Areas 

Literacy

Literacy is engaging, purposeful and creative in which children will gain experiences of creating and sharing a range of texts in a variety of ways, with different media and materials, as well as learning about using different signs and symbols, exploring sound and developing alphabetic and phonetic skills.

Mathematics

Children are provided with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating simple addition and subtraction problems, and describing shapes, spaces and measures. Every young child is entitled to a strong mathematical foundation which is built through playful exploration, apprenticeship and meaning-making. 

Understanding the World

Children gain a powerful, meaningful context for learning across the curriculum. They are supported when starting to make sense of their expanding world and their place within it through nurturing their wonder, curiosity, agency and exploratory drive. Rich play, virtual and real world experiences support learning about our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world and how to stay safe within it.

Expressive Arts and Design

Children use a variety of ways to express and communicate, through music, movement and a wide range of materials. We foster imagination, curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and experimentation and provide opportunities to improvise, collaborate, interact and engage in sustained shared thinking. Multi-sensory, first-hand experiences help children to connect and enquire about the world.