Aims of our EYFS Curriculum

• To ensure all children have a safe, happy, positive and nurturing start to their school life.
• To provide broad, balanced, relevant and engaging learning experiences needed to develop the skills and attitudes required to be a successful learner.
• To deliver quality and consistency in teaching and learning so that every child makes good progress.
• To work closely with parents and carers ensuring a strong relationship between home and school is developed.

Environment

The Foundation Stage classroom is organised to allow children to explore and learn safely and securely. There are specific areas, which enable children to be active, quiet, creative, imaginative or reflective.

Children have access to both indoor and outdoor areas across the day. These are organised so that children have the opportunity to engage in activities and explore resources, which reflect the seven areas of learning.

Curriculum

The CUSP Early Foundations offer is presented in three parts:

1. Foundational knowledge: what pupils should know and be able to do throughout the EYFS and how this will support their development and prepare them for success in Key Stage 1 and beyond.
2. Opportunities and experiences: how this foundational knowledge can be learnt through play and through guided activities that will allow pupils to explore, experiment with and think hard about new and important concepts.
3. Structured Story Time: core texts that will introduce key language, ideas and themes that pupils will need to access the foundational knowledge, built into a framework that uses all that we know about effective literacy instruction.

At Queniborough CE Primary School we recognise that children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. We value all areas of learning and development equally, understanding that they are interconnected.

Teaching in EYFS

Staff ensure there is a balance between child and adult-led learning, with the balance between the two evolving as the year progresses. During child-initiated activities, the role of the adult is paramount in building children’s understanding and guiding new learning. Adults model learning behaviour and question children so that these activities are maximised for their learning potential.

We believe that learning through play is an important part of early year’s development, providing the activities are stimulating and relevant to children’s interests and experiences. Adult-led activities, providing direct teaching, are also a crucial part of children’s learning and some direct teaching takes place daily for all children.