Curriculum
The EYFS Reception Year Curriculum at Eastwood Village Primary
Our EYFS Curriculum has been designed to reflect our children’s interests, the seasons of the year, nature, culture and environments around our school. It aims to teach the children how their environment compares to other places, cultures and nature in other parts of the world. It is therefore unique to Eastwood Village Primary school.
Each topic planned is included in the curriculum for very specific reasons and we want to ensure that all children leaving the EYFS are ready to start our KS1 curriculum. Each topic does not last a specific amount of time but is based on the children’s learning at the time, and so a topic can run from anything between two and seven weeks. All the topics have resources and activities ready to use in the continuous provision. Topics are introduced with a good quality storybook or an age appropriate non – fiction text. Using books in this way teaches children that books and reading form the basis of all learning.
This ambitious Early Year’s curriculum aims to teach all children the skills and knowledge in order that they reach the seventeen Early Learning Goals described in the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile. We teach through a range of teaching strategies including child-initiated learning, whole class teaching, group teaching, investigations, enquiries and problem solving together, and independently. All activities are modelled, and children are given sufficient time, support and resources to repeat and practise them.
The Early Years Foundation Stage applies to children from birth to the end of the F2 year. In our school, children join us, full time in F2 or part time entry in F1.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is based upon four overarching principles:
- A Unique Child
- Positive Relationships
- Enabling Environments
- Learning and Development.
We value the diversity of individuals within the school. All children at Eastwood Village Primary School are treated fairly regardless of race, gender, religion or abilities. All children and their families are valued within our school. We give our children every opportunity to achieve their best. We do this by taking account of our children’s range of life experiences when planning for their learning. When planning, we strive to create as many experiences as possible which will in turn, impact their quality of work. The Foundation Stage classroom is organised to allow children to explore and learn securely and safely. There are areas where the children can be active, be quiet, creative etc. The Foundation Stage has it’s own outdoor classroom area. The free flow between the inside and the outside has a positive effect on the children’s development. Being outdoors offers opportunities for doing things in different ways and on different scales than when indoors. The children can explore, use their senses and be physically active and exuberant. There are seven areas of learning and development that must shape educational provision in early years settings. All areas of learning and development are important and inter-connected. Three areas are particularly crucial for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and for building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
Time Tables:
Prime Areas:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development.
Staff will also support children in four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied.
Specific Areas:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive arts and design.
To give us a base for our curriculum, we used the EYFS Statutory Framework alongside the Development Matters Document. We then designed a bespoke curriculum to ensure that our children are engaged and enjoy their learning which in turn encourages excellent progress.
Please see our Long-Term Plans to see more information on our curriculum.
Progression of Indoor Continuous Provision
Development Matters Report September 2023
EYFS Statutory Framework for Group and School Based Providers 2024