We are extremely proud of the children who are in our Early Years setting; they settle in so well and are incredible representatives of our school. We try our best to ensure the youngest children in our school are Reception ready by making our provision as accessible, creative and engaging as possible.

In our EYFS, children are nurtured to become safe, curious and confident learners who are ready for the next stage of education. Our curriculum is carefully designed to fully meet the Statutory EYFS Framework while also reflecting the unique context of our inner-city community and our school vision.

Our EYFS curriculum sits within our empowerED approach and is shaped by our four pillars:

• My Identity – children develop pride in who they are and respect for others

• My World – children broaden their horizons and build knowledge of the world around them

• My Voice – children become confident communicators; oracy and vocabulary are at the heart of everything we do

• My Future – children build ambition, resilience and belief in what is possible for them

Our Curriculum Intent

We want every child to experience a curriculum that is:

• Rich in language and oracy, with frequent, meaningful back-and-forth interactions and timetabled vocabulary opportunities

• Built around high-quality picture books, carefully selected to support vocabulary, talk, imagination and inclusive representation

• Sequenced and purposeful, with meticulously planned “core experiences” that make learning memorable and meaningful

• Responsive, shaped by children’s interests and starting points, with a strong focus on reducing unnecessary assessment and maximising time in the provision

How We Teach

Learning in EYFS happens through a balance of adult-led teaching, guided group work, and high-quality continuous provision indoors and outdoors.

We support children to thrive through:

• Oracy-first practice: talk is explicitly taught and modelled through play, stories, Talk for Writing approaches, and daily interactions

• Vocabulary development: ambitious words are introduced, explored, revisited and used in context across the week

• Meaningful links across learning: children connect ideas across themes, seasons, stories and real-life experiences

• Strong parental partnerships: regular opportunities for families to share culture, stories, songs and learning experiences with the class

• Inclusive, responsive teaching: staff adapt provision and interactions so that all children can access learning and flourish

Please click here for our EYFS curriculum map which changes year to year.

In the Foundation Stage, the curriculum is made up of six areas of learning:

• Personal and Social Development
• Communication & Language
• Physical Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding of the World
• Expressive Arts & Design

Please click on the following link to learn more about the National Curriculum in the Early Years Education.