EYFS Overarching Principles

Here at Walton Lane we follow the EYFS and the four guiding principles which support us in shaping all of our practice in the early years.

Unique Child

We believe that every child is unique and plan for all their individual needs and interests - supporting them in becoming resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.

Positive Relationships

We understand the importance of children and parents developing positive relationships and work on a Key Person system to support this.

Enabling Environments

We aim to create stimulating and positive environments which support and respond to children's individual needs and interests. We aim to develop strong partnerships with parents and/or carers to support this.

Children Develop and Learn in Different Ways and at Different Rates

Children's individual interests, needs and next steps are all taken into account and planned for in order to support each child in making good progress from their starting points.

Characteristics of Effective Learning

The ways in which children engage with other people and their environment underpin learning and development across all the areas of the EYFS and support children in effective and motivated learning.

The Characteristics of Learning are:

Playing and Exploring - engagement

• Finding out and exploring
• Playing with what they know
• Being willing to 'have a go'

Active Learning - motivation

• Being involved and concentrating
• Keeping trying
• Enjoying achieving what they set out to do

Creating and Thinking Critically - thinking

• Having their own ideas
• Making links
• Choosing ways to do things