Foundation phase

The foundation phase is a new type of teaching introduced in Wales for children between the ages of 3 and 7. This curriculum is held in maintained and non-maintained settings in schools. It’s emphasis is on active learning as it has been found that children learn better through doing than from doing activities in exercise books.

This curriculum is split up in to seven different frameworks:

• Personal and Social Wellbeing and Cultural Diversity
• Physical Development
• Creative Development
• Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
• Welsh Language Development
• Mathematical Development
• Knowledge and Understanding of the World

I have personally had some experience with the foundation phase when I did work experience as part of my health and social care BTEC. One way my placement utilised the foundation phase was by having “free flow” every day. This is where the staff set up different zones and then let the children play and do whatever they lied in any zone they wanted.

One way the foundation phase is implemented in schools is through the curriculum. Between the ages of 3 and 7 teachers aim to teach children through play. Because of the foundation phase the curriculum now focuses on getting children to learn through direct experiences and active learning.  It also attempts to develop their creative, personal and social needs.

A benefit of the foundation phase is that they do the following:

•          Motivates
•          Stimulates
•          Supports
•          Develops skills
•          Develops concepts
•          Develops language/communication skills
•          develops positive attitudes
•          Demonstrates awareness/use of recent learning and skills

However, A weakness of the foundation phase is that people are not confident in the implementation of it .This is shown in the Foundation Phase: Perceptions, Attitudes and Expectations, An overview of the ethos and an analysis of the implications of the implementation report. It states that’s over half (56%) of the pilot settings were uncertain of their confidence.