Key facts

• The Foundation Phase framework is the mandatory, government-set curriculum for children age 3-7 in Wales.

• -It was started in September 2008, replacing the Early Years Curriculum and Key Stage 1.

• -This means that your child will experience the Foundation Phase during their time at nursery and as they continue on to Primary School.

• -The framework is divided into 7 key areas of learning, which are:

 

Language, Literacy and Communication

Welsh Language Development

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

Mathematical Development

Personal and Social Development and Well-being

Physical Development

Creative Development

 

Learning through Play

The Foundation Phase curriculum is designed to allow your child more freedom in their learning, to learn as they play and explore. Activities are carefully planned by our practitioners to ensure that your child will develop key skills in each of the 7 areas of learning, as they work and play. Observations are made and evidence (such as photographs or pieces of work) recorded to show how they are using these skills. At Llanover Day Nursery, we collect all of this information in your child’s development record, which you receive at the end of their time with us.

 

You may heard of the phrases ‘learning through play’ and ‘child-led learning.’ These are central to the Foundation Phase curriculum. At Llanover Day Nursery, as well as planning adult-led activities, we also provide lots of opportunities for free play so that your child can choose what they do. This is important in helping them to develop into independent thinkers, able to make their own decisions, who enjoy learning. Of course, as practitioners we are there to support your child and develop their learning- we will guide them and suggest activities to enhance their learning even as they play freely.

 

Another important aspect of the Foundation Phase is learning outside. At Llanover Day Nursery, we have three large playgrounds accessed directly from our rooms, a Forest School area and a large field. This enables the children to experience the world around them, and learn how to solve real-life problems.

 

The 7 Areas of Learning- an overview

Language, Literacy and Communication

This area of learning is all about experiencing language. Early reading and writing (mark-making) will take place but the focus is on helping your child to communicate well, build their vocabulary and help them to listen to and interact with others. With these things firmly in place, reading and writing will come much more easily. Activities include listening to stories, choosing different reading material, taking part in discussions, asking questions and listening to others, making marks to describe their experiences.

 

Welsh Language Development

Activities include using Welsh in everyday situations, singing songs and listening to stories in Welsh, learning about Welsh culture and celebrations.

 

Knowledge and Understanding of the World

This area of learning aims to encourage children's natural curiosity about the world. Activities include finding out about things that happened in the past, learning about the work different people do, and finding out about living things by taking part in simple experiments such as growing plants from seeds.

 

Mathematical Development

This area of learning develops basic Maths skills through problem solving and play activities. These could include measuring, investigating patterns and shapes and sorting activities. Children will also begin to learn about numbers and counting.

 

Personal and Social Development and Well-being

This area of learning is especially important as it focuses on helping children to form good relationships with other children and adults, learning to become thoughtful and sensitive to the feelings of others, as well as growing their own sense of self-esteem and confidence.

 

Physical Development

Activities include developing gross and fine motor skills, balance, coordination and spatial awareness.

 

Creative Development

This area of learning covers arts and crafts, but also music and dance. It aims to encourage children to express themselves in different ways and use their imaginations too.

 

 

The Foundation Phase at Llanover Day Nursery

At Llanover Day Nursery, the Foundation Phase classroom is known as the Ladybird Room and the team there is run by our experienced nursery manager, Kelly Turner. Each month the children will have a new focus or topic for their play and learning activities. Kelly plans each topic carefully to ensure coverage of all of the important Foundation Phase skills, and to build on what the children already know. Recent topics include Jack and the Beanstalk (pictured), with the children listening to the story and practising their writing skills, as well as learning about seeds and planting their own sunflowers in our Forest School. The Ladybird Room also has a role-play corner which children can use during free play, decorated to match the current topic.

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about learning in the Foundation

Phase, please do not hesitate to contact us. You can also

find out more at the Welsh Assembly Government’s

Foundation Phase webpages.