The Foundation Stage: The Foundation Stage beings when children reach the age of 3 and lasts until they are rising 5 (Year 1 of KS 1). The curriculum children follow in the Foundation Stage underpins all future learning by supporting, fostering and developing children in 6 areas of learning. These are Personal, Social and Emotional development, mathematical development, communication, language and literacy, physical development, knowledge and understanding of the world and creative development.