• For our Nursery to be a welcoming place, where children settle quickly and easily

  • For children to feel safe, stimulated and happy in the Nursery, and to feel secure and comfortable with staff

  • For parents to have confidence in both their children’s wellbeing and their role as active partners with the Nursery

Our Aims

Early Years Development

What is the EYFS?

The EYFS sets out standards for the learning, development and welfare of children from birth to 5 years of age. It explains the skills, knowledge and understanding that children must learn to support healthy development. From when your child is born up until the age of 5, their early years’ experience should be happy, active, exciting, fun and secure.

All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes.

The EYFS sets out:

  • the legal welfare requirements that everyone registered to look after children must follow to keep your child safe and promote their welfare

  • the 7 areas of learning and development which guide professionals’ engagement with your child’s play and activities as they learn new skills and knowledge

  • assessments that will tell you about your child’s progress through the EYFS

  • expected levels that your child should reach at age 5, usually the end of the reception year; these expectations are called the “Early Learning Goals (ELGs)”

Areas of learning

Your child will mostly be taught through games and play.

The staff at Little Smarties plan a variety of opportunities linked to children’s individual interests and developmental needs. Children learn through playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside.

The seven areas of learning are:

  1. Communication and language

  2. Physical development

  3. Personal, social and emotional development

  4. Literacy

  5. Mathematics

  6. Understanding the world

  7. Expressive arts and design

More information on the EYFS can be found here