Our Curriculum is guided by the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework, ensuring that learning and development is planned carefully to meet the needs and interests of each child.

The EYFS Framework supports children from birth to the end of Reception and is based on four Key Principles:

• Every child is a unique child who is constantly learning

• Children learn best through positive relationships

• Children learn best in enabling environments

• Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates

The EYFS Curriculum is made up of Seven Areas of Learning, all of which are important and interconnected.

Prime Areas

These areas are particularly important for building the foundations of learning:

• Communication and Language 

• Physical Development 

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development 

Specific Areas

These areas help children apply the skills developed in the prime areas:

• Literacy 

• Mathematics 

• Understanding the World 

• Expressive Arts and Design 

How Children Learn

Children in Early Years learn through play and exploration. We plan opportunities that support the Characteristics of Effective Learning:

• Playing and Exploring – children investigate and experience things first-hand

• Active Learning – children concentrate, keep trying, and enjoy achieving

• Creating and Thinking Critically – children develop their own ideas and solve problems

Our Early Years team provides a balance of:

• Child-initiated learning

• Adult-led activities

• High-quality interactions that extend children’s thinking and language

Learning takes place both indoors and outdoors, with carefully planned continuous provision that allows children to revisit and build on skills.

Retrieval Practice in EYFS

In the Early Years Foundation Stage, we use Retrieval Practice to support children’s long-term memory and secure learning.

Retrieval Practice in EYFS is play-based, informal and age-appropriate. It involves regularly revisiting and recalling previously learned knowledge, skills and vocabulary, helping children to strengthen their understanding and apply learning in new situations.

What does Retrieval Practice look like in EYFS?

• Daily conversations and questioning during play and routines

• Revisiting familiar stories, songs and rhymes

• Recalling previously learned vocabulary and key concepts

• Encouraging children to use known skills in different contexts

• Regular opportunities to return to key learning experiences and themes

Assessment and Progress

Assessment in Early Years is ongoing and based on:

• Observations of children’s play and learning

• Conversations with children

• Evidence from adult-led activities

These assessments help us plan next steps and ensure each child makes good progress. At the end of Reception, children are assessed using the EYFS Profile.

Supporting Individual Needs

We are committed to meeting the needs of all children. This includes:

• Supporting children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

• Supporting children who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL)

• Working closely with parents and external professionals where appropriate

Children’s wellbeing is central to everything we do.

Partnership with Parents

We value strong partnerships with parents and carers and believe that working together supports the best outcomes for children. We keep parents informed through:

• Regular communication and meetings

• Sharing learning and progress

• Suggestions for supporting learning at home