While the ‘prime’ areas of learning are most important, we also support children’s development of the ‘specific’ areas of learning in their early years.

Literacy

During their time in the early years, children need lots of opportunities to practise the skills required to read and write; the development of communication and language as well as physical skills are fundamental. Such opportunities should include reading together regularly, looking at print in books and the environment, encouraging children to have a go at writing letters (such as those in their name) and listening to sounds in words (for example cat = c-a-t). At St Matthew's we teach phonics using the FFT Success for All

Early Learning Goal: Comprehension

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Demonstrate understanding of what has been read to them by retelling stories and narratives using their own words and recently introduced vocabulary;
• Anticipate – where appropriate – key events in stories;
• Use and understand recently introduced vocabulary during discussions about stories, non-fiction, rhymes and pises and during role-play.

Early Learning Goal: Reading

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Say a sound for each letter in the alphabet and at least 10 digraphs;
• Read words consistent with their phonic knowledge by sound-blending;
• Read aloud simple sentences and books that are consistent with their phonic knowledge, including some common exception words.

Early Learning Goal: Writing

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Write recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed;
• Spell words by identifying sounds in them and representing the sounds with a letter or letters;
• Write simple phrases and sentences that can be read by others.

Maths

Developing a strong grounding in number is essential so that all children develop the necessary building blocks for later learning. Children should be able to count confidently, develop a deep understanding of the numbers to 10, the relationships between them and the patterns within those numbers. By providing frequent and varied opportunities to build and apply this understanding – such as by using manipulatives, including small pebbles and tens frames for organising counting – children will develop a secure base of knowledge and vocabulary from which mastery of maths is built.

Early Learning Goal: Number

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Have a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including the composition of each number;
• Subitise (recognise quantities without counting) up to 5;
• Automatically recall (without reference to rhymes, counting or other aids) number bonds up to 5 (including subtraction facts) and some number bonds to 10, including double facts.

Early Learning Goal: Numerical Patterns

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Verbally count beyond 20, recognising the pattern of the counting system;
• Compare quanties up to 10 in different contexts, recognising when one quantity is greater than, less than or the same as the other quantity;
• Explore and represent patterns within number up to 10, including evens and odds, double facts and how quantities can be distributed equally.

Understanding the World

Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community. The frequency and range of children’s personal experiences increases their knowledge and sense of the world around them – from visiting parks, libraries and museums to meeting important members of society such as police officers, nurses and firefighters. In addition, listening to a broad selection of stories, non-fiction, rhymes and poems will foster their understanding of our culturally, socially, technologically and ecologically diverse world.

 

Expressive Arts and Design

The development of children’s artistic and cultural awareness supports their imagination and creativity. It is important that children have regular opportunities to engage with the arts, enabling them to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials. The quality and variety of what children see, hear and participate in is crucial for developing their understanding, self-expression, vocabulary and ability to communicate through the arts.

Early Learning Goal: Creating with Materials

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Safely use and explore a variety of materials, tools and techniques, experimenting with colour, design, texture, form and function;
• Share their creations explaining the process they have used;
• Make use of props and materials when role playing characters in narratives and stories.

Early Learning Goal: Being Imaginative and Expressive

Children at the Expected Level of Development will:

• Invent, adapt and recount narratives and stories with peers and their teacher;
• Sing a range of well-known nursery rhymes and songs;
• Perform songs, rhymes, poems and stories with others, and – when appropriate – try to move in time with music.