Foundation Phase

The Foundation Phase is fairly recent within education. In 2008 the Foundation Phase gave light to the benefits of learning though discovery. Defined by the EYFS “Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates” they also recognised that “All areas of learning and development are equally important”.  Realising these actualities the Foundation Phase was able to support the children in developing. Only basing their research and plans within the 3-7years (key stage 1) all planning was based around developmentally appropriate activities, which reflect the child’s interest, and promote communication, concentration and exploration.  

Quoted from http://wales.gov.uk/topics/educationandskills/earlyyearshome/foundation_phase/?lang=en

The curriculum will focus on experiential learning, active involvement and developing each child's:

·        skills and understanding

·        personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual well being so as to develop the    whole child

·        positive attitudes to learning so that they enjoy it and want to continue

·        self-esteem and self-confidence to experiment, investigate, learn new things and form new relationships

·        creative, expressive and observational skills to encourage their development as individuals with different ways of responding to experiences

·        activities in the outdoors where they have first-hand experience of solving real-life problems and learn about conservation and sustainability.

 

The Foundation Phase gives praise to similar work of Montessori, that children learn best whilst doing. Therefore a lot of the approach involves children being actively involved within their work rather than completely exercise books, children will carry out the actual activity. Another major aspect of the Foundation Phase was that no subjects were involved, but instead there were themes and areas.

 The Foundation phase consists of 7 areas, these are; mathematic development, knowledge an understanding of the world, physical development, welsh language development, creative development, personal and social development, language, literacy and communication skills. As stated previously these areas are not subjects. The change the Foundation Phase has made within the curriculum is that the areas can be integrated with one and another. For example by role playing a petrol station children are about to use their physical development on the bike. Mathematic development by the cost of the petrol, knowledge and understanding of the world that’s cars need petrol for energy and to work (just like we need food), welsh development by naming certain items in welsh, personal and social development, by communicating with the people around them, language an literacy could involve writing receipts and discussing costs.

http://www.schoolsworld.tv/node/377