EYFS
EYFS curriculum is carefully planned to provide children with the knowledge, skills, language and experiences they need to succeed. It is informed by the Early Years Foundation Stage statutory framework and Development Matters, while being responsive to the children in front of us.
We have high expectations for every child. We believe that children learn best when adults know them well, understand their starting points and provide the right level of challenge, support and encouragement. Our curriculum therefore provides clear progression while remaining flexible enough to follow children’s interests, questions and fascinations.
Children learn through a combination of high-quality adult-led teaching, purposeful play, exploration, conversation and carefully planned experiences. Topics, stories, real-life experiences and the children’s own interests provide meaningful contexts through which they develop their knowledge and understanding of the world.
We want our children to leave EYFS as confident communicators, enthusiastic learners, resilient problem-solvers and curious explorers, ready for the next stage of their education.
Language-rich learning
Communication and language are at the heart of our Early Years provision. We place a strong emphasis on developing children’s vocabulary, listening skills, confidence and ability to express themselves.
Children are immersed in stories, rhymes, songs, poetry, conversation and high-quality texts. Adults model ambitious vocabulary, engage children in sustained conversations and create opportunities for children to talk, explain, question, retell and share their ideas.
We recognise that a strong vocabulary is fundamental to future success. We therefore deliberately introduce children to new words and concepts and provide repeated opportunities for them to hear, understand and use new language in meaningful contexts.
Learning through the seven areas
Our curriculum develops children's knowledge and skills across all seven areas of the EYFS:
The three Prime Areas:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
The four Specific Areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
The areas are closely interconnected. A story might lead to conversations about new vocabulary, role play, writing, mathematical thinking and learning about the wider world. A visit or real-life experience might inspire questions, drawing, construction, music, physical activity and imaginative play.
This enables children to make meaningful connections between different areas of their learning.
Inspiring indoor and outdoor environments
Our Early Years classrooms and outdoor spaces are carefully designed to invite curiosity, creativity, exploration and independence.
Children have access to a wide range of high-quality resources and experiences that encourage them to investigate, build, create, imagine, problem-solve and collaborate. Our provision allows children to revisit and deepen their learning through purposeful play, both indoors and outdoors.
We believe that the environment is an important part of the curriculum. Adults observe how children use the spaces and resources and adapt provision in response to their interests, needs and developing knowledge.
Our outdoor provision provides opportunities for children to develop physically, explore nature, take appropriate risks, work collaboratively and experience the world first-hand.
Reading, writing and mathematics
We give children the strongest possible foundations in early literacy and mathematics.
Our Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised phonics programme provides a carefully sequenced approach to developing early reading and writing. Children enjoy sharing high-quality books and develop a love of stories and reading alongside their systematic phonics teaching.
Writing develops through phonics, shared texts, storytelling, mark-making, drawing and meaningful opportunities to communicate ideas. We encourage children to see themselves as writers from the very beginning.
In mathematics, children develop a secure understanding of number, numerical relationships, shape, space, measure and pattern through carefully planned teaching and practical experiences. We use children's natural curiosity and everyday experiences to help them understand how mathematics is used in the world around them.
Learning through real experiences
We believe that children learn deeply when they have something meaningful to see, hear, touch, experience and talk about.
We therefore provide a broad range of experiences that help children to understand their own community and the wider world. This includes opportunities to explore nature, celebrate different cultures and traditions, develop an understanding of our Catholic faith, meet visitors, experience music and the arts, and learn about people and places beyond their immediate experience.
These experiences help children to develop knowledge, vocabulary and confidence while encouraging them to ask questions and make connections.
Developing confident, independent learners
Alongside knowledge and skills, we nurture the characteristics that help children become successful learners. Children are encouraged to:
Play and explore – finding out how things work, investigating, asking questions and having a go.
Be active learners – concentrating, persevering, practising and taking pride in their achievements.
Create and think critically – developing their own ideas, making connections, solving problems and finding different ways to approach challenges.
Above all, we want children to develop a love of learning. We want them to be excited to come to school, proud of what they can do and confident that they can achieve great things.
Our Early Years vision
At Our Lady & St Edward’s, we want every child to have the very best start. We combine high expectations with warmth, care and encouragement, providing children with rich experiences, beautiful learning environments and a curriculum that begins with who they are and extends their understanding of the world.
Every child. Every experience. Every opportunity to flourish.