Croeso cynnes i Adran Y Cyfnod Sylfaen
A warm welcome to the Foundation Phase Department

Welcome to the Foundation Phase

Our vision is excellence in all areas and our hard working team is committed to providing the highest possible standard of Foundation Phase provision for the learners in our care.

Learning is one of the most important and exciting things we do in life and at Plascrug we aim to provide a lively and friendly atmosphere where learning can flourish.

The Foundation Phase team at Ysgol Plascrug believe that truly successful education is a partnership between school, pupils, parents and our community. We always endevour to form a strong partnership with Parents and Carers, so that we can work together to help your child develop and learn.

As a team will do our best to ensure that your child settles happily into his/her new class and school. You are always welcome to come and see us if you are concerned about anything.

We hope that our web page provides you with a little information about what we do.

Croeso i'r Cyfnod Sylfaen

Ein gweledigaeth ydy rhagoriaeth ym mhob maes ac mae tîm yr adran yn gweithio'n galed ac yn ymrwymedig i ddarparu'r safon uchaf posibl o ddarpariaeth Cyfnod Sylfaen ar gyfer y dysgwyr yn ein gofal.

Dysgu yw'r flaenoriaeth bwysicaf a’r mwyaf cyffrous i ni yma a’n nod yw creu awyrgylch bywiog a chyfeillgar sy'n hyrwyddo dysgu da.

Cred tîm y Cyfnod Sylfaen bod addysg yng ngwir ystyr y gair yn bartneriaeth rhwng yr ysgol, y disgybl, y teulu a’r gymuned. Ymdrechwn i ffurfio partneriaeth gref gyda Rhieni a Gofalwyr, fel y gallwn weithio gyda'n gilydd i helpu eich plentyn i ddatblygu a dysgu.

Fel tîm, gwnawn ein gorau glas i sicrhau bod eich plentyn yn setlo'n hapus i mewn i’w ddosbarth ac ysgol newydd. Mae croeso cynnes i chi ddod i'n gweld ni os ydych yn pryderu am unrhyw beth.

Gobeithiwn y bydd ein tudalen we yn eich darparu gydag ychydig o wybodaeth am yr hyn rydym yn ei wneud.

What is the Foundation Phase ?
Beth yw'r Cyfnod Sylfaen ?

The Foundation Phase is a Welsh Government, national reform covering the combined ages of 3-5 Year olds and 5-7 Years olds i.e. what was previously known as Early Years and Key Stage 1 provision. The statutory roll-out of the Foundation Phase began in September 2008 (for 3-5 year olds) and was completed in July 2011 (for 7 year olds).

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 brings more consistency and continuity to children’s education at such an all-important period in their development.

The curriculum is planned as a progressive framework that spans four years (3 to 7 years) to meet the diverse needs of all children, including those who are at an earlier stage of development and those who are more able and talented. Throughout their formative years, children’s learning develops more rapidly than at any other time. However, progress is not even and children go through periods of rapid development and times when they seem to regress. At Plascrug, the curriculum for young children is appropriate to their stage of learning rather than focusing solely on the age-related outcomes to be achieved. Children move on to the next stages of their learning when they are developmentally ready.

We have designed indoor and outdoor environments that are fun, exciting, stimulating and safe in order to promote children’s development and natural curiosity to explore and learn through first-hand experiences. Our Foundation Phase environment promotes discovery and independence and a greater emphasis on using the outdoor environment as a resource for children’s learning.

The Foundation Phase is about enhancing the learning experiences which enable children to be creative, imaginative and to have fun whilst learning.Children are given opportunities to explore the world around them and to understand how things work through engaging in relevant practical activities which are fun and enjoyable and relevant to their development stages.

Click HERE to watch a Welsh Government video that introduces the Foundation Phase.

Cliciwch YMA i wylio fideo Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cyflwyno'r Cyfnod Sylfaen.

The Foundation Phase places greater emphasis 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 will want to continue with
  their education for longer

• 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.

The Seven Areas of Learning

The Foundation Phase has seven Areas of Learning, where stimulating structured play activities can be woven into the learning experiences. The curriculum is built around these seven areas to support and encourage your child’s personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual well-being and development. When your child starts school he/she will have many experiences that will help him/her develop as an individual. The areas of learning are as follows:

• Personal and Social Development, Well-being and Cultural Diversity.
  
• Language, Literacy & Communication Skills.
  
• Mathematical Development.
  
• Welsh Language Development.
  
• Knowledge & Understanding of the World.
  
• Physical Development.
  
• Creative Development.

• To develop a mutually respectful partnership with parents focussed on the best interest of the child.
  
• To celebrate children’s achievements and plan their educational progress.
  
• To provide experiences which are relevant to the child's stage of development.
  
• To provide a rich learning environment that will nurture and develop the child as a whole.
  
• To ensure every child has access to a comprehensive range of education and learning opportunities, including acquisition of skills.
  
• To have access to play, leisure, sporting and cultural activities.
  
• To provide a wide range of experiences that will enhance learning opportunities and that are relevant to every child.
  
• To ensure that pupils are in a safe environment that supports physical and emotional wellbeing.
  
• To provide a learning environment, both indoors and out, that will promote first-hand experiences of solving real-life problems and the opportunity to  learn about conservation and sustainability.

Why is the outdoors important?

• children’s health and fitness benefit from running, jumping and skipping outside and using toys and equipment that cannot be used inside
  
• children can experience nature at first hand - how the weather changes and how plants and animals react to the different seasons
  
• problem solving can relate to real experiences
  
• children can experience aspects such as conservation and sustainability at first hand
  
• they can develop a love of nature and undertaking activities out of doors.

Children develop their thinking across the curriculum through the process of planning, developing and reflecting.

It enables children to think creatively and critically, to plan their work, carry out tasks, analyses and evaluate findings and to reflect on the learning. The processes of developing thinking, namely plan, develop and reflect, should not be seen as a set style of learning and teaching. Each process does not have a specific place in a task. The three processes should be interchangeable. 

Developing ICT

How will my child’s progress be assessed?

An initial assessment called the 'Foundation Phase Child Development Assessment Profile' will be made when your child enters the Foundation Phase at Plascrug. The main purpose of the Profile is to provide a ‘baseline’ of where the child is and to determine the next steps for their development. For the majority of children, that assessment will be made at around the age of three. However, some children may not enter the Foundation Phase (and thus will not be assessed) until they reach compulsory school age.

This information will help to ensure that children’s first experience of education is appropriate to their needs and stage of development. 

The Profile has been designed to accommodate the on-entry assessment of children between the ages of three and five. The Profile is also used to gather evidence of a child’s progress as they move through the Foundation Phase and this evidence will inform how the child is making progress towards the Foundation Phase Outcomes.

The Foundation Phase Team continually assess children’s progress through observing them in their everyday activities and use the information to plan the next stage in their development.

Parents/carers will receive a report following the initial assessment and also a written report on their child's progress in the seven areas of learning at the end of each academic year. In addition, a  statutory teacher assessment of the child’s achievement will be included at the end of the Foundation Phase (Year 2).

You are welcome to discuss your child's progress at any time by arranging an appointment with his/her classteacher or with the Head of Foundation Phase, Mrs. Gwenith ap-Robert.

Assessment for Learning (AfL)

What if we move outside of Wales?

Currently, each of the home countries has a different approach to the education of young children. The Foundation Phase in Wales is based on good, early years practice which gives children a good foundation for learning regardless of where they live.

Will my child still learn to read and write?

Yes. In the Foundation Phase emphasis is placed on developing children's speaking and listening skills that set a solid basis for the development of reading and writing.

Many young children enter education unable to talk about their feelings and experiences. These children are not motivated to read and write and see little value in the activities. Children who can share their feelings and talk about their experiences are far more motivated to record their thoughts and to read what others have written. It is important therefore, that all children learn to speak about their experiences and to listen to others so that they will want to develop the skills of reading and writing.

If children enter education with well developed speaking and listening skills then staff will support them in moving forward. What will be important is that children are given the experiences that respond to their needs that will help them to learn successfully.

Jolly Phonics

What is Jolly Phonics?

Jolly Phonics is a fun and child centred approach to teaching literacy which is extremely popular with our pupils and staff alike! With actions for each of the 42 letter sounds, the multi-sensory method is very motivating for children and teachers, who can see their pupils achieve. The letter sounds are split into seven groups as shown below.

Letter Sound Order

The sounds are taught in a specific order (not alphabetically). This enables children to begin building words as early as possible.

How does Jolly Phonics work?

Using a synthetic phonics approach, Jolly Phonics teaches children the five key skills for reading and writing.

The five skills taught in Jolly Phonics are :

1.Learning the letter sounds

Children are taught the 42 main letter sounds. This includes alphabet sounds as well as digraphs such as sh, th, ai and ue.

Using different multi-sensory methods, children learn how to form and write the letters.

3.Blending

Children are taught how to blend the sounds together to read and write new words.

Listening for the sounds in words gives children the best start for improving spelling.

Tricky words have irregular spellings and children learn these separately.

Jolly Phonics Songs

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Cliciwch yma i ymweld â gwefan 'Jolly Phonics'.
Click here to visit the 'Jolly Phonics' website.

'My Jolly Phonics' at home:

You can now purchase a Jolly Phonics pack to support your child's learning at home. Watch the video clip below to learn more or click HERE to visit the Jolly Learning website to purchase a 'My Jolly Phonics' pack.

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High Frequency Words

Click here to download a list of the first 300 High Frequency Words. These words might be used as flash cards or in a game of snap etc.  

Oxford Reading Tree & Floppy's Phonics

Our school follows the 'Oxford Reading Tree' reading scheme and we have recently introduced the 'ORT Floppy's Phonics' scheme to work alongside our phonics programme.

Visit the Oxford Reading Tree website to find out how you can support your child with his/her reading at home. There is also a selection of Oxford Reading Tree online books for your child to read.

Mae ein hysgol yn dilyn y gyfres ddarllen ‘Coeden Ddarllen Rhydychen’ ac yn ddiweddar cyflwynwyd y gyfres 'Floppy's Phonics' i gyd-fynd a'n cynllun dysgu ffonig.

Ewch i wefan Coeden Ddarllen Rhydychen i gael gwybod sut y gallwch chi gefnogi eich plentyn gyda darllen yn y cartref. Ceir hefyd ddetholiad o lyfrau Coeden Ddarllen Rhydychen ar-lein i'ch plentyn i ddarllen.

Numicon - Numeracy Resources

Numicon is a quality first teaching approach designed to give children the understanding of number ideas and number relationships that is essential for success in mathematics. We use a series of structured patterns - Numicon shapes - to represent numbers, as part of a progressive teaching programme.There are over 6,000 schools in UK using Numicon for teaching numeracy and Plascrug is one of them!

Dysgu Cymraeg gyda Fflic a Fflac
Learning Welsh with Fflic & Fflac

Fel rhan o'n gwaith i ddatblygu’r Gymraeg, dilynwn y cynllun 'Fflic a Fflac' sydd yn boblogaidd iawn gyda'r disgyblion. Cliciwch ar y ddolen isod i ymweld â gwefan 'Fflic a Fflac'.

As part of our Welsh Language Development learning we are following the 'Fflic a Fflac' scheme which is very popular with our pupils. Click on the link below to visit the 'Fflic a Fflac' website.

Chwarae i Ddysgu / Play to Learn :

At Plascrug, we use 'Play to Learn' in the Foundation Phase. 'Play to Learn', funded by the Welsh Government, is a fun way to help children improve their physical skills and play outdoors. Please watch the video below and/or click HERE to visit the 'Play to Learn' website.

Click here to download a comprehensive booklet "How can I help my child succeed?"

Llawlyfr Y Cyfnod Sylfaen
Foundation Phase Handbook

Click here to download  a copy of the Foundation Phase Handbook.

For further information about the Foundation Phase at Ysgol Plascrug, you are welcome to contact:
Am wybodaeth bellach am Y Cyfnod Sylfaen ym Mhlascrug, mae croeso cynnes i chi gysylltu â:

Mrs. Gwenith ap-Robert
Pennaeth Y Cyfnod Sylfaen
Head of Foundation Phase

01970 612286
gwenithap@plascrug.ceredigion.sch.uk


"....what a child can do with help today, he will do alone tomorrow.."
Lev Vygotsky