Learning & Development
A The Heatons Preschool and Day Nursery, we use the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework to support every child’s development through play, exploration, and meaningful new experiences. We recognise that children learn best when they are engaged, curious, and able to develop at their own pace. We provide opportunities for children to broaden their knowledge, understanding, and experiences of the world around them. Our experienced practitioners carefully observe each child’s interests, strengths, and stage of development, enabling them to identify individual next steps in learning. Using this knowledge, we plan exciting and purposeful opportunities that challenge, inspire, and support every child to make progress and reach their full potential.
You can find out more about the EYFS by clicking the button below to download The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum: A Guide for Parents
EYFS Overview
What is EYFS
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a statutory framework in England that sets the standards for the learning, development, and care of children from birth to five years old. It applies to all early years providers, including nurseries, preschools, reception classes, and childminders. The EYFS ensures that every child receives a high-quality foundation in education, preparing them for school and future learning.
Safety and Quality
The EYFS framework includes strict welfare requirements to keep children safe, such as staff-to-child ratios, administering medicines, and risk assessments. Ofsted, the government’s official inspection body, monitors the quality of early years providers.
Why Is the EYFS Important?
The EYFS is designed to support children’s healthy development in a safe, happy, and stimulating environment. It recognises that children learn best through play, exploration, and positive relationships. The framework also emphasises the importance of emotional well-being and social skills, ensuring children are ready for school not just academically, but emotionally and socially.
The Seven Areas of Learning and Development
The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven key areas, divided into two categories:
Communication & Language
Developing listening, attention, understanding and speaking skills through conversation, storytelling, and play.
Physical Development
Building gross motor skills (movement, balance) and fine motor skills (using tools, handling equipment) by encouraging movement, coordination, and healthy habits.
Personal, Social & Emotional
Building confidence, understanding emotions, and developing relationships with others
Literacy
Early reading and writing skills, including phonics and a love for books.
Mathematics
Introduction to numbers, shapes, patterns, and problem-solving.
Understanding the World
Exploring the environment, different cultures, and how things work
Expressive Arts & Design
Creativity through art, music, dance, role-play, and storytelling.
How can parents support their child's learning?
Parents play a vital role in their child’s early education. Here are some ways to support learning at home:
Encourage Communication
Talk, sing, and read with your child every day. Ask open-ended questions and listen to their responses to help develop language and understanding.
Play-Based Learning
Use activities like building blocks, drawing, painting, and role-play to foster creativity, problem-solving, and imagination.
Support Physical Development
Offer opportunities for outdoor play, sports, and activities that build fine motor skills, such as colouring, threading beads, or using scissors.
Read Together
Share books daily, explore stories, and encourage your child to talk about what they see and hear. This builds literacy skills and a love for reading.
Explore Numbers and Shape
Use everyday moments—like cooking, shopping, or playing—to talk about numbers, shapes, and patterns. Count objects, sort items, and spot shapes around the house.
Discover the World
Go on nature walks, visit parks, and talk about different places, cultures, and how things work. Encourage curiosity and exploration.
Express Creativity
Provide materials for drawing, painting, music, and dance. Join in with singing, dancing, or acting out stories together.
Build Social Skills
Arrange playdates, encourage sharing and turn-taking, and talk about feelings to help your child develop friendships and emotional understanding.
Stay Involved
Communicate regularly with nursery to understand their progress and how you can help at home.
Tapestry Learning Journey Overview for Parents
What is Tapestry?
At The Heatons Preschool and Day Nursery, we use a programme called Tapestry, which is a secure, online learning journal designed to record photos, observations, and comments about your child’s experiences and development that we. It is closely linked to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and helps build a record of your child’s achievements both at nursery and at home.
Privacy & Security
Secure Access: Only you, trusted family members (if you choose), and staff can access your child’s journal. Photos and observations are stored securely and are not shared publicly.
Data Protection: All information is deleted when your child leaves the setting, and you can request withdrawal or deletion of your child’s account at any time.
Assessment and Progress
- Linked to EYFS: Observations are linked to the EYFS curriculum areas, helping staff assess your child’s progress in communication, physical development, social skills, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world, and expressive arts.
- Assessment Points: Staff may tag observations with relevant EYFS statements or assessment points, supporting ongoing assessment and planning for your child’s learning journey.
- Learning Journey document: At the end of your child’s time with us, you can download a copy of your child’s learning journal as a keepsake and record of their development.
Personal Online Journal
Observations
Staff aim to upload one observation weekly, including photos or videos of your child’s learning and play. These entries document key moments and progress, often quoting your child’s words and noting next steps for learning.
Parent Contributions
Parents are encouraged to add their own observations from home, sharing achievements, activities, and special moments. This helps staff gain a fuller picture of your child’s development and celebrate successes together.
How parents use Tapestry
- View photos and videos of your child's day
- Read observations linked to EYFS areas
- Add home observations and family moments
- Access termly progress reports
- Message your child's key person
Additional classes and activities at The Heatons
Children at The Heatons Preschool Group participate in extra classes and activities that not only aid their early development but are also lots of fun! These include:
Babyballet
Babyballet is an award-winning preschool dance and ballet program for children aged six months to six years, designed to be a magical and educational experience that focuses on learning through play. It was founded in the UK in 2005 and has since expanded internationally. Classes are linked to the UK Government's Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and are designed to enhance physical coordination, balance, social skills (like taking turns and sharing), confidence, and creativity.
Rhythm and Rhyme
A Rhythm and Rhyme class is a multi-sensory music and movement session for babies and toddlers (often pre-walking to age 4) that uses songs, instruments, drumming, parachute play, bubbles, lights, and themed props to support early development, language, and parent-child bonding in a fun, engaging environment, often incorporating elements like Makaton signs. These classes focus on building early literacy, communication, and social skills through repetition and musical play, aligning with Early Years Foundation Stages.
FootyTotz
Footytotz is a UK-based early years program (18 months-5 years) using structured, story-based football fun to build children's confidence, coordination, agility, and motor skills, aligning with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) through themed obstacle courses, games, and cool-downs, ensuring inclusive, educational physical activity for young children.
Jo Jingles
Jo Jingles offers fun, interactive music, singing, and movement classes for babies and preschoolers (around 3 months to 5 years) across the UK, Ireland, and Australia, using a mascot doll named 'Jo', props, instruments, and action songs to develop skills like confidence, language, coordination, and social interaction in a structured, educational, and playful environment.
Tiny Talk signing
TinyTalk classes offer fun, interactive sessions for babies and toddlers (from newborn to around 2 years) using British Sign Language (BSL) to help them communicate before speech, blending songs, sensory play, puppets, instruments, and social time for parents to connect and learn signs for family, mealtimes, etc., building skills like bonding, coordination, and language in an inclusive, social setting.
Supporting Every Child's Journey
Our curriculum is designed to help all children to grow, learn and thrive
