#foundation phase

The Foundation Phase is a new approach to learning for children from 3-7 years of age. It combines what we currently call Early Years Education (for 3 to 5-year-olds) and Key Stage 1 (5 to 7-year-olds) of the National Curriculum. To support the rollout of the Foundation Phase, a statutory framework, 'Framework for Children’s Learning for 3 to 7-year-olds in Wales', is available. The Foundation Phase is based on the principle that early years’ provision should offer a sound foundation for future learning through a developmentally appropriate curriculum. It will bring more consistency and continuity to children’s education at such an all-important period in their development. The Foundation Phase places great emphasis on children learning by doing. Young children will be given more opportunities to gain first hand experiences through play and active involvement rather than by completing exercises in books. They will be given time to develop their speaking and listening skills and to become confident in their reading and writing abilities. Mathematics will be more practical so that children can see how problems are solved and how important mathematics is in their everyday lives. There will be more emphasis on children understanding how things work and on finding different ways to solve problems. The curriculum will focus on experiential learning, active involvement and developing each child’s:

Skills and understanding

Personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual well being so as to develop the whole child.

Positive attitudes to learning so that they enjoy it and want to continue

Self-esteem and self-confidence to experiment, investigate, learn new things and form new relationships.

Creative, expressive and observational skills to encourage their development as individuals with different ways of responding to experiences.

Activities in the outdoors where they have first-hand experience of solving real-life problems and learn about conservation and sustainability.

This framework sets out the curriculum and outcomes under seven Areas of Learning. For each Area of Learning, the educational program sets out what children should be taught and the outcomes set out expected standards of children’s performance. The Foundation Phase will be implemented over four years as follows:

1 September 20xx for all 3 to 4-year-olds in the Foundation Phase

1 September 20xx for all 4 to 5-year-olds in the Foundation Phase

1 September 20xx for all 5 to 6-year-olds in the Foundation Phase

1 September 20xx for all 6 to 7-year-olds in the Foundation Phase.

From these dates, the existing national curriculum for Key Stage 1 is superseded. A series of guidance documents have been developed to support the implementation of the Foundation Phase.