Foundation Phase

The Foundation Phase is a structured document for children's learning for 3 to 7 year olds in Wales. It combines with Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum and instead of having a curriculum based around subjects; it is based around 7 specific areas of learning. The aim of this framework is to make learning more fun for children and more effective. It is about children learning through discovery and raising children's standards of achievement (Welsh Government).

The 7 areas of learning in the Foundation Phase are:

1.Personal and Social Development, Well-Being, and Cultural Diversity
This area focuses on children learning about themselves, forming relationships with adults and other children and learning about their own and other cultures.

2.Language, Literacy and Communication Skills
These are the skills children develop through talking, listening, singing and communicating with others. Children will achieve these skills through asking questions, expressing their own opinions and by making their own choices.

3.Mathematical Development
Children will learn how to use numbers mentally by using numbers in their daily activities, they will gain development through oral, practical and play activities.

4.Welsh Language Development
This area focuses on children learning welsh to the best of their abilities; they will communicate, listen and respond to the welsh language. This skill is developed through enjoyable, planned activities.

5.Knowledge and Understanding of the world
In this area children use the indoor and outdoor environment to explore the world. They begin to gain an understanding of the world around them such as past events, people and the work they do, places and living things.

6. Physical Development
Here, children will be helped to use their bodies productively. Many skills will be developed through physical activity such as spatial awareness, control and coordination, gross and fine motor skills, balance and physical control.

7.Creative Development
Creativity and Imagination should be developed through all the areas of learning through expressive activities. These activities include art, design, music, craft, dance and movement.

These 7 areas of learning are based around themes, not subjects, and are all observed through children playing (Welsh Government).

In 2011, the BBC reported that in a minority of schools, children aged 5-6 years were not learning enough. This was due to activities not being challenging enough for children, and the inspection body Estyn found that standards of literacy in some schools were lower than others, which means learning is hindered (Estyn).
I believe the foundation phase being introduced in Wales has been a very good decision. In my opinion children learn more effectively by doing, and the foundation phase is based around giving children more opportunities to learn actively.