Foundation Stage

We at Karachi High School feel that numeric study and literacy together form the foundation for all further schoolwork. Therefore, we give most emphasis to English and Mathematics in our elementary curriculum. In the foundation stage years (FS1and FS2/Reception Year), students develop the awareness of Language and Mathematics, which we then build upon in our academic years in Key Stage 1& 2 (Year 1 through to Year 6).

Children need a well planned and resourced curriculum to take their learning forward and to provide opportunities for all children to succeed in an atmosphere of care and of feeling valued. Monitoring of each childs progress throughout the foundation stage is essential to ensure that they are making progress and that particular difficulty in any of the areas of learning, whatever the cause, are identified and addressed. Prompt and appropriate action at this stage could help to prevent children from developing learning difficulties later in their school career.

Monitoring of each childs progress throughout the foundation stage will also ensure that its achievements can be celebrated.

At KHS, development of the “whole” child is encouraged. Activities are included that allow children to learn in their preferred styles: linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, and intrapersonal. Children are encouraged to maintain attention, concentrate and sit quietly when appropriate be confidant to try new activities, initiate ideas and speak in a familiar group.

Early learning goals

Positive attitudes and dispositions towards their learning: in particular an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning and a confidence in their ability to be successful learners.

Social skills: in particular by providing opportunities that enable them to learn how to cooperate and work harmoniously alongside and witheach other and to listen to each other; Children work in groups, learn how to share fairly and understand each others differences and working in harmony regardless of that difference.

Attention skills and persistence: in particular the capacity to concentrate on their own play or on group tasks.

The children will probably tell you I didnt do any work today. I just played! But their play is planned and supported to help them learn. We are very pleased with the progress our children make in all the 6 areas of learning.

Foundation Stage (Foundation &Reception): Areas of learning

  1. Personal, social and emotional well-being: To provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can develop, work and play.
  2. Language and communication: During these stages the students will develop speaking and listening skills, speak words and sentences, respond to questions and make conversation. Children are provided with the opportunity to talk and communicate in a widening range of situations, to respond to adults and to eachother, to practice and extend the range of vocabulary and communication skills they use and to listen carefully.
  3. Reading and writing: with opportunities for all children to explore, enjoy, learn about and use words and text in a broad range of contexts and to experience a rich variety of books.
  4. Mathematical development: Children are expected to say and use number names, counting, and recognition of numerical by the end of this stage. In practical activities and discussion they begin to use the mathematical vocabulary.
  5. Physical development: Children show awareness of space, of themselves and of others and recognise the importance of keeping themselves and their environment clean. The children can handle objects, construction and malleable materials safely and with increasing control.
  6. Creative development: Creativity, innovation and ideas are stepping-stones in improving and enhancing a childs creativity and thinking process. Children explore color, texture, shape form and space in two or three dimensions.

The children dont do much work on paper in the beginning of the foundation year. We try to take lots of photos of the practical things they do as well as writing observations. You will see these when you join your child for Open Family Sessions on Parents Day on Wednesday 14th October.

You do not need to come every week. Due to limited space we are unable to invite younger brothers and sisters so we hope youll be able to find a friend or family member to babysit.

Our Literacy Program for the Foundation Stage (Foundation and Reception)

www.ruthmiskinliteracy.com

Read Write Inc. is a method of learning centred around letter sounds and phonics, and we use it here at Karachi High School to aid children in their literacy.

Reading opens the door to learning. A child who reads a lot will become a good reader. A good reader will be able to read more challenging  material. A child who reads challengingmaterial is a child who will learn. The more a child learns, the more he or she will want to find out.

Using Read Write, the children learn to read effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into comprehending what they read. It also allows them to spell effortlessly so that they can put all their energy into composing what they write.

When using Read Write to read the children will:

learn 44 sounds and the corresponding letter/letter groups using simple picture prompts.

learn to read words using Fred Talk.

read lively stories featuring words they have learned to sound out.

show that they comprehend the stories by answering questions.

When using Read Write to write the children will:

learn to write the letters/letter groups which represent 44 sounds.

learn to write words by saying the sounds in Fred Talk.

write simple sentences.

compose stories based on picture strips.

FOR PARENTS WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP THEIR CHILD READ

A free website built to help you help your child learn to read and love to read.

www.oxfordowl.co.uk

  • Help your child’s reading
  • Over 100 FREE ebooks to enjoy with your child
  • Phonics guide (including how to say the sounds correctly)
  • Ideas for motivating boys and girls to read
  • Great ways to keep up with reading in the holidays
  • Reading games and activities.

HealthyEating

If you wish your child to bring their own lunch, make sure that the lunch or snack you choose to send is both nutritional and well balanced. Please support us by not including sweets or fizzy drinks.