EYFS Curriculum
Our curriculum is based on the Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework educational programmes and ‘Development Matters’ guidance, along with children’s interests and developmental needs, and the context of our school. Our curriculum is designed to give children the foundational knowledge and understanding needed to prepare them for year 1 and beyond. This is taught mainly through our focus texts and continuous provision. Our whole school curriculum is concept driven and we have developed early years progression documents for key subject areas which clearly link our provision to the concepts and knowledge in the national curriculum taught in key stages 1 and 2.
Language Development
A key feature throughout our provision is developing children’s language and vocabulary. We do this through the stories we read, our interactions with children, and our language and communication rich environments (things to talk about and adults ready to talk). We provide lots of opportunities to develop children’s familiarity with stories, songs and rhymes throughout early years. Everything we do is designed to promote language development – our learning environments, the structure of our day, the way focus activities and interventions.
Reading and Writing
Reading is central to our curriculum. Understanding and enjoyment of books is supported through daily story time and sharing books in all year groups. We use ‘core books’ in Reception. This programme immerses children in high quality books, involves lots of talk and role play, and has been highly successful in raising engagement and attainment in reading and writing. We develop children’s writing through spoken language and comprehension of stories.
Phonics
Phonics teaching starts with ‘letters and sounds phase 1′, with listening and sound discrimination experiences and activities, as well as lots of songs and rhymes. We introduce Bug Club routines, this is taught systematically with daily sessions, and additional interventions are used to ensure all children who need extra help are given individual/ small group tuition.
Maths
Maths is taught through concrete, meaningful experiences aimed at developing children’s conceptual understanding. We use the ‘Bug Cub and NCTEM mastery approach’ scheme to inform our planning in Reception, and this carries on through the school, supplemented by activities and experiences planned to support the specific learning needs of our children, for example our emphasis on number, mathematical language, explanation and concrete experiences . Along with the rest of the school, we follow the ‘concrete, pictorial, abstract’ approach.
Early Years Principles
Running all the way through our early years is the principle of learning through play, the best and most meaningful way for young children to learn. We offer lots of open ended exploratory experiences, and the structure of our day includes periods of uninterrupted play, so that children can get deeply involved in their learning. We provide rich, enabling learning environments, inside and outdoors, which promote exploration and discovery. The classrooms and outdoor areas in all year groups are organised so that opportunities in all areas of learning are offered. Children can access resources by themselves, make choices, follow their own interests and extend their own learning independently. This all leads to greater involvement and deeper learning.
Interactions and the Characteristics of Effective Learning
Much of our teaching is through interactions. Adults observe the children closely, and join in (‘intervene’) sensitively with their play, to extend their language and thinking, and develop their knowledge and skills. We support the ‘Characteristics of effective learning’ (‘playing and exploring’, ‘active learning’ and ‘creating and thinking critically’) developing confident, resilient, independent learners throughout the early years. We encourage good attitudes to learning, like curiosity, concentration and willingness to ‘have a go’, in everything we do.