Our entire curriculum (which you can find here) is shaped, using the linked documents listed here:

• The Early Years Statutory Framework
• Birth to 5 Matters (non-statutory)
• The Characteristics of Effective Learning

Early Years:

At Front Street Primary School we strive to provide the best for every child as a unique individual as we know from research and knowledge; opportunities and experience enable children to build solid foundations for future learning. We believe in providing a high quality, secure foundation for the future learning and development of our children.

Within our Early Years we provide an inclusive approach to education and quickly identify special educational needs and disabilities to ensure children promptly receive the appropriate support they need to help them progress well in their learning and achieve their best. We acknowledge and respond to the ever-changing needs within the setting and develop the continuous provision, classroom expectations, curriculum, and daily routine accordingly.

We believe all children should have a high level of self-worth and pride, giving them the confidence to believe that their own opinions are important and valued in our school. In our early years, we promote independence and enable children to play, explore, be active in their own learning, create and think critically.

We understand how important it is that children feel happy and safe in our early year’s environment.

Our school ethos is embedded within the day-to-day life of our EYFS. Our school values shape how we behave, what we say to each other and how we build relationships and respect as we learn as we pride ourselves with our vision ‘believe, achieve, together we succeed’

Intent: Why do we teach what we teach?

At Front Street Primary School we place great value on the development of children as individuals and providing them with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to prepare them for the challenges in today learning, Key Stage One and beyond. Our curriculum is designed to recognise children’s prior learning from previous settings and their experiences at home.

We provide first hand learning experiences, whilst allowing the children to build resilience, ambition, and integrity. Every child is recognised as a unique individual and we celebrate and welcome differences within our school community.

Our aim in the EYFS is to build strong foundations rooted in academic success as well as moral and spiritual development, so that ultimately our pupils can be successful at university, go on to be active citizens of society and happy, curious life-long learners.

Our curriculum is flexible and provides the cultural capital we know our pupils need so that they can gain the knowledge, skills and understanding they require for success. We embed the right habits for learning through the Characteristics of Effective Learning within Early Years, which are;

• Play and Exploration,
• Active Learning
• Creative and Critical Thinking. 

Many of our pupils arrive below national expectations for their age, we have a rising proportion of our children who come from disadvantaged backgrounds and with complex needs. We teach them how to listen, speak and meet the high expectations for behaviour by working together and being kind. As such, we prioritise personal, social, and emotional development and communication and language in the Nursery curriculum.  We believe a warm, loving, secure and safe setting provides a sense of belonging for every individual. Our EY staff are sensitive and responsive to the child’s needs, feelings and interests they are supportive of the child’s own efforts and independence, ensuring that skilful adult interactions support the children as they begin to link learning to their play and exploration. As a unit we are consistent in setting clear boundaries and following our policies and procedures and working closely with parents and caters to gain a holistic view of each individual child.

We strive to provide a fun, nurturing and challenging environment that enables each child to thrive regardless of any barriers to their learning. We pride ourselves on developing purposeful relationships with our pupils based upon mutual respect, equal opportunities and high-quality early education for all. We work closely with our parents, previous nurseries and out of school clubs and providers as well as KS1 staff to ensure our transitions are as smooth as possible for all involved. This also ensures continuity and consistency between settings and key stages.

As the pupils move into Reception, we invest time and energy into helping pupils set and reflect on their own goals by aiming high and developing a love of reading, writing and number.  This is delivered through a holistic curriculum which maximises opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and learning experiences as well as promoting the unique child by offering extended periods of play and sustained thinking following children’s interests and ideas. Community involvement is an essential part of our curriculum as we celebrate local traditions, learning new skills to enable the children to take an active role in events throughout the year.

Our investment in staff training, phase meetings, liaising with local cluster groups and working with DFE and LEA on new initiatives means that children continually receive high quality teaching.

Our 7 whole-school curriculum drivers are built in to every single aspect of the Early Years: every day, in everything we do. 

In Nursery our curriculum is based around the following topics, which are broad and flexible to follow the developmental stages of our children, their needs and interests;

Autumn		Spring	Summer
Let’s Explore	Christmas	My Wonderful World	Changes

What will my child be doing at Nursery?

The focus for learning within the Nursery is based on each child as an individual, providing them with a wide variety of adult led and child-initiated activities, based on the seven   areas of learning. During your child’s time at Nursery they will experience a range of carefully planned, structured and child-led play opportunities, which occur both indoors and outdoors. Within the Nursery, learning is personalised to suit the many different needs of the children. The Nursery environment is made up of the seven areas of learning in order to provide opportunities to achieve the Early Years Framework and the Early Years Learning Goals.

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

Personal Social and Emotional Development

Within our Nursery our children will be provided with opportunities and experiences to begin to support and develop their own relationships, self-confidence and self-awareness. Your child will be encouraged to develop a positive sense of themselves, gaining a sense of pride in their achievements in order to show growing respect for their peers. They will  also develop their ability to manage their own feelings and behaviour through following agreed Nursery expectations, rules and routines. The Nursery activities encourage your child to begin to develop a positive attitude towards their learning. We will encourage your child to take turns in small groups, activities and conversations. The use of circle time and role play opportunities will be a focus to begin to develop your child’s understanding and turn taking. We will enable children to become independent in managing their own hygiene as well as developing skills in decision making and using resources with some adult support.

Communication and Language

We ensure that opportunities are available for your child to encounter a range of  experiences, allowing them to build relationships with peers and adults through speaking and listening activities. This will allow your child to extend their understanding of themselves and their peers as well as to begin to communicate with others. Activities such as circle time, listening to stories and following instructions will enhance their listening and concentration skills. Your child will then progress towards expressing their own needs, talking about ‘here’ and ‘now’ whilst re-enacting roles and experiences from their own lives. Your child will extend their speaking, listening and attention skills by communicating with ‘how’ and ‘why’ questions between adults and peers. Communication and Language is modelled by the adults constantly within Nursery therefore your child will begin to develop confidence with their own communication and language skills.

Physical Development

Within this area of learning your child will experience the concept of moving and handling as well as learning and developing their independence towards health and self-care skills through the use of practical activities. Physical development is encouraged through the use of active learning, supporting their co-ordination, control, manipulation and movement. Physical development is extended through their gross and fine motor skills both indoors and outdoors. Children will develop their use of tools and resources through activities such as cutting with scissors, threading beads onto a string, running, kicking a large ball, using pedal bikes as well as climbing and completing jigsaw puzzles.  Your child will be encouraged to identify the effect exercise has on their body and understand the importance of healthy choices such as healthy foods.

In our Nursery we take part in ‘finger gym’ activities which are designed to strengthen the children’s fingers. Once the children are ready to begin forming letters and learning letter sounds we teach using resources from the program ‘Read, Write, Inc’ however this is based on your child’s individual needs.

Literacy

Within this area of learning Nursery aims to introduce your child to books and mark   making. Your child will be encouraged to listen and join in with new and familiar stories during circle time. Your child will be introduced to handling books appropriately and developing a keen interest towards illustrations and print within their environment. Our children have numerous opportunities to mark make and develop their use of fine motor and their pincer grip skills throughout all areas of their play. The use of the early stages of emergent writing will also develop your child’s fine motor skills.

Mathematics

This area of learning encourages your child to develop their understanding of problem solving and reasoning within mathematics through a range of activities.  We support your child to learn, explore and talk about their developing understanding, providing them with opportunities to begin to gain confidence within their use of mathematics. We enjoy activities in small groups such as counting, singing counting rhymes, comparing quantities and sorting activities. We use mathematical language within our play experiences, extending your child’s knowledge and understanding through the use of numbers, shape, space and measures. We look at real-life mathematics such as shape, money and cookery too. We encourage your child to take part in mathematical challenges and problem solving with their peers in a broad range of contexts.

Understanding of the World

We will support your child’s knowledge, skills and understanding to help them make sense of their world and their community. This area of learning will support your child to ask questions, explore and investigate the world around them. We encourage your child to  develop their learning by linking it to their own awareness of their own family and daily life. We believe the use of sharing real-life situations and experience will develop your child’s learning and understanding, whilst making your child’s learning as practical, valuable and relevant as possible. We ensure that your child’s learning is supported by a variety of opportunities, resources and local visits where possible. We will provide opportunities for your child to look at changes over time and to show an interest in how and why things happen.

Expressive Arts and Design

At Front Street creativity is part of our daily routine. We will support your child’s curiosity and exploration within their play, allowing them to explore media and materials whilst extending their thoughts, ideas, imagination and creativity. Opportunities will be provided to ensure creativity is consistent and extended following your child’s needs and interests, through the use of activities such as music and movement, imaginative role play and a variety of art and design technology tasks.

Outdoor Environment

The outdoor environment will be used within the daily routine and aims to reflect and  enhance indoor learning opportunities. Your child will be able to access resources outdoors to enhance the development of the seven areas of learning through the use of free flow play. The outdoor environment is crucial towards developing each child’s independence, physical development as well as exploration and investigation opportunities.