It was first implemented in August 2008 for just children aged 3-5 years old but then in August 2009, they increased the age to children of 5-6 and then in the following year, August 2010, increased the age to where it stands now with children of the age 6-7. As such, after August 2010, Key Stage 1 became irrelevant.
The Foundation Phase has seven areas of learning and they are delivered through practical activities, both indoors and outdoors
The Seven Areas of Learning are:
- Personal and Social Development, Well-being and Cultural Diversity
- Language, Literacy and Communicational Skills
- Mathematical Development
- Welsh Language Development
- Knowledge and Understanding of the World
- Physical Development
- Creative Development
In this area of learning, the children learn about themselves, their relationships with other children and adults both within and outside the family dynamic. They learn about the Welsh culture, and other cultures that are part of society in Wales. The ideas of fairness and justice and the children are encouraged to think about the feelings of others and to respect them. Well-being has now been recognised as an essential part of learning and because of this, well-being is now an integral part of learning and is not only associated with a child's basic needs but with how at ease they feel, with themselves and their surroundings
Language, Literacy and Communicational Skills
This area is crucial and important to children's development. While language is a verbal way of expressing thoughts and feelings, there are also non-verbal ways of communicating such as:
- Facial gestures
- Body posture and movement
- Tone of voice
Mathematical Development
In this area, children should have plenty of 'hands-on' activities. It is important that the activities and experiences are planned to match children's individual needs. They should build on previous achievements to enable children to have continuous learning. Teachers have to make sure that gaps are avoided in the children's learning. With this area of learning, children should eventually
- make use of their knowledge to solve mathematical problems
- communicate mathematical ideas in different ways
- develop mathematical reasoning
In English speaking schools, children will be given the opportunity to acquire familiarity with Welsh to acquire further language learning and a positive attitude to Welsh. The children will be given the opportunity to further develop their, speaking, reading and writing in Welsh.
Knowledge and Understanding of the World
In this area, children will learn all about their everyday life, their homes, families, other people, the local environment and community, and the wider world. This spiral curriculum was advocated by Jerome Bruner who believes that teachers should revisit previous teachings as children develop.
Physical Development
In this area, children will learn to control large and small body movements, coordinate them, fine motor skills, to be aware of the space around them, and balance. Children will increase their skill and performance of the body. They will also learn that physical well-being depends upon a healthy lifestyle.
Creative Development
This area relates to encouraging children's creative side. It should stimulate children's curiosity by both indoor and outdoor activities. Children should feel free to express their individual selves in a multitude of ways such as painting, model making, role play, music, poetry, dance and writing. This will help develop another way of communicating children's thoughts and feelings.
We don't know if the Foundation Phase is successful yet, as the first group who participated are only now going in to Secondary School, hopefully it will prove to be a success.
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