The Foundation Phase

The Foundation Phase was implemented in 2008, this document is mandatory for teaching and learning in Wales for children aged 3-8. The Foundation Phase is based on children’s learning through play; it encompasses the developmental needs of children. At the centre of the curriculum lies the holistic development of children and their skills, also building on previous learning experiences, knowledge and skills. The Foundation Phase curriculum acknowledges parents/carers as the children’s first educators. The Foundation Phase states that ‘Children learn through first-hand experiential activities with the serious business of play.’ Through playing children are able to practice and consolidate their learning, experiment, solve problems, take risks, play with ideas and make individual decisions or group decisions. By children having first-hand experiences the child is able to develop an understanding of themselves and the world that they live in. at the core of the Foundation Phase is the development of a child’s self image, feelings of self worth and self esteem. The Foundation Phase is made up of seven areas of learning, the statutory areas of learning in The Foundation Phase are:-

 

•              Personal and Social Development, Well-Being and Cultural Diversity

•              Language, Literacy and Communication Skills

•              Mathematical Development

•              Welsh Language Development

•              Knowledge and Understanding of the World

•              Physical Development

•              Creative Development.

 

For each area of learning in the Foundation Phase there are certain things set out on what children should be taught and there are outcomes set.

The Foundation Phase provides an inclusive curriculum that will offer the children to achieve their full potential, covering race, gender and disability. In a Foundation Phase setting it is important that they make reasonable adjustments for children with disabilities so they are able to participate in activities too.

 

The Foundation Phase helps to meet each child’s individual learning needs as there are seven areas of learning which will teach the children about a lot of things. The Foundation Phase states that it aims to ensure that all children and young people have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development.

Practitioners should know the children develop and plan suitable activities that will meet each child’s individual needs. Whilst planning activities it is important that the practitioner takes into account, the children’s developmental needs, skills and what they need to grow to become confident learners.

The foundation Phase aims to ensure all children and young people:

 

 

•              have a flying start in life and the best possible basis for their future growth and development

•              have access to a comprehensive range of education, training and learning opportunities, including acquisition of essential personal and social skills

•              enjoy the best possible physical and mental, social and emotional health, including freedom from abuse, victimisation and exploitation

•              have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities

•              are listened to, treated with respect, and are able to have their race and cultural identity recognised

•              have a safe home and a community that supports physical andemotional wellbeing

•              are not disadvantaged by any type of poverty.

The Learning Country 2: Delivering the Promise

(Welsh Assembly Government, 2006)
http://wales.gov.uk/dcells/publications/policy_strategy_and_planning/early-wales/whatisfoundation/foundationphase/2274085/frameworkforchildrene.pdf;jsessionid=1735525FFBAFF933D4FC0E40CF25A46E?lang=en

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_eYF3nU5rsQ

Importance of Play

Play is very important for a child, children learn best through play, young children learn more during the first five years of the lives than at any time, at this time in life they are learning through playing. Play is creative and self directed, a child can play on his own or with others, both ways the child will learn new things. By playing from a young age the child will learn a lot of different skills that will help all through the child’s life, the child will learn to share with others, socialise, deal with mistakes and take risks. Play always involves action, active involvement is essential to play and learning. Playing as a child contributes to physical development, social development, cognitive development and cultural development. Through play children develop their knowledge about the world, they develop their language as they will learn new words and try them out, whilst playing the child will use many different emotions depending on what they are playing, the child is learning to share and gaining social skills whilst playing with others and physically the child is developing coordination skills.

There are a lot of theoretical approaches that are current today that link to play that helps to meet the children’s needs. Theorists for many years have professed that children learn best through play.

Play is important in settings as children learn through play; whilst children play they build on their self esteem and become more confident. It is important that children’s needs are met so they will develop more skills and have a wider knowledge of the environment.

Many theorists believed that the way for children to understand difficult learning concepts is through play and they have forward models of learning based on children’s play and how they learn through suitable activities.

Froebel believed that play was important for the child for them to discover how things work, he believed that it was a pleasurable activity but it is very purposeful. Froebel founded his first Kindergarten in 1840, he believed that children should be aware of the outdoor world and he expressed that children should be physically active and have real life experiences. He believed in Child Centred education and that play was an important part of children’s development. He invented finger play, songs and rhymes to meet children’s learning needs, this is still used today in settings where they use songs and rhymes to help the children learn, and this is good as the children are learning as well as having fun. He was well known for encouraging learning by using blocks which he called gifts, these encouraged children to understand mathematical concepts and relationships through playing with blocks. Froebel valued symbolic play, this is where children understand that they can make one thing stand for something else, and this is still used today as the Foundation Phase is used in settings and it has seven areas of learning and one of those areas is Mathematical Development so they are using this by playing with blocks. He felt that children would learn at their highest level through imaginative play and encouraged play in the home corners and dressing up areas as they would have to use their imagination.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGIE6ZXJPa8