Our EYFS curriculum is designed to nurture highly motivated, curious and independent learners who develop secure foundations across all seven areas of learning and are exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education. Through a carefully sequenced, knowledge rich and play based curriculum children develop strong Communication and Language enabling them to listen attentively, express their ideas clearly and engage in meaningful dialogue.

They build positive relationships, resilience and self regulation through Personal, Social and Emotional Development, and develop strength, coordination and control through Physical Development.  Children develop early reading and writing through a rigorous, systematic and engaging Literacy curriculum, and build deep understanding, fluency and reasoning through Mathematics. They develop a strong sense of themselves, their community and the wider world through Understanding the World, and express their ideas, imagination and creativity through Expressive Arts and Design. 

We place communication and language, early reading, social development and the Characteristics of Effective Learning — Playing and Exploring, Active Learning, and Thinking Creatively and Critically — at the heart of our curriculum, as these underpin all future success. 

The outdoor environment is a fundamental and integral part of our curriculum and is used purposefully to enhance and enrich all areas of learning. It provides meaningful, first hand experiences that develop language, curiosity, physical competence, problem solving, creativity and independence. Through regular exploration of the natural world and their local environment, children develop a deep understanding of the world around them and their place within it.

Our curriculum is structured around carefully sequenced, progressive key questions that build knowledge, skills and vocabulary over time. Each theme deliberately integrates the Prime Areas (Communication and Language, Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Physical Development) and the Specific Areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, Expressive Arts and Design), ensuring all children develop breadth and depth of learning. 

Daily, high quality teaching of systematic synthetic phonics, early reading, writing and mathematics ensures children develop secure foundational skills. Staff have strong subject knowledge and use precise modelling, questioning and interactions to extend thinking, develop language and deepen understanding. 

Continuous provision, both indoors and outdoors, is carefully designed and adapted to consolidate learning, address misconceptions and follow children’s interests. The outdoor environment is used as a direct extension of the classroom, providing rich opportunities for children to apply and deepen their learning across all areas. Outdoors, children develop their physical strength, coordination and risk management, apply mathematical concepts in meaningful contexts, engage in mark making and early writing, explore scientific concepts through first hand investigation, develop communication and language through collaboration and storytelling, and express their creativity through open ended exploration.  Children learn through a balance of direct teaching, purposeful play, high quality adult interaction and carefully planned experiences.

Staff consistently support children to develop the Characteristics of Effective Learning, encouraging independence, sustained concentration, resilience and creative thinking.  Clear subject links, including science, computing, geography, history, RE, PSHE, art and design, are explicitly planned to build early subject knowledge and ensure children are exceptionally well prepared for the transition into Key Stage 1.

By the end of Reception, children demonstrate excellent progress from their starting points and achieve highly across all areas of learning. They communicate confidently using a rich and varied vocabulary, listen attentively and express their ideas clearly. They regulate their behaviour and emotions effectively, show empathy towards others and demonstrate high levels of independence and resilience.  Children develop strong physical competence, moving with control, coordination and confidence. They read with increasing fluency and comprehension, write for a range of purposes, and apply mathematical knowledge confidently to solve problems. 

Through extensive first hand experiences, particularly in the outdoor environment, children develop a deep understanding of the natural world, seasonal change and their local environment. They show curiosity, ask thoughtful questions, make predictions and explain their thinking providing excellent foundations for scientific enquiry in Key Stage 1.  Children develop strong geographical understanding through exploration, mapping and discussion of their environment.

They develop early historical understanding through recognising change over time and comparing past and present. They express themselves creatively using a wide range of materials, tools and techniques, both indoors and outdoors.  They develop a secure understanding of friendships, community and personal safety, and use technology purposefully and safely.  Children consistently demonstrate the Characteristics of Effective Learning. They show high levels of engagement, motivation, independence and critical thinking, particularly when exploring and problem solving in the outdoor environment.  As a result, children leave EYFS exceptionally well prepared for Key Stage 1. They are confident, capable learners with secure foundations in language, early reading, writing, mathematics, scientific enquiry, creativity, and understanding of the world