The Foundation Stage and Child Development |
There is evidence that children in the Foundation Stage are not developing the
necessary skills in their numeracy, literacy and cognitive abilities. This article looks at
how pre school children in the Early Years Foundation Stage are failing in their development
and how a development programme may assist in correcting the matter.
The ProblemEarly Years Teachers at the Foundation Stage have seen in the past years that many children coming to them from a nursery education or from home are delayed in their motor development. These children also exhibit signs of poor concentration and ADHD symptomotology. Rather than treating them with medication at the Foundation Stage, a better solution must be sought to accelerate their development.. Solution 1In the County, Foundation Stage teachers are now implementing structured motor programmes on children on entry to Reception with the result that at the end of the first term, the vast majority now reach the expected standard. It would, however be better if the children could learn whilst pre school. Solution 2If children in the Foundation Stage could learn at home and acquire the skills needed then they would not have to go through the motor Programme in the first term. Realising this, an Educational Psychologist has produced a Child Development Programme for children pre school in the Foundation Stage. This programme, designed for pre-school children in the Early Years Foundation Stage ( aged 3-5) concentrates on early learning, developing key skills in literacy, numeracy, motor skills and information processing. Pre school children can be taught both at home and benefit from nursery education, as well as Sure Start centers. They enjoy the preschool activities and the programme has the advantage over educational toys in that more than one facet of their early learning takes place. |