We follow ‘Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework’ and work towards a set of statements called the ‘Early Learning Goals’. Each child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.

Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are the ‘Prime Areas’. These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. At this stage in their development special attention is paid to speaking and listening as this lays down a solid foundation for future and further learning.

There are seven areas of learning and development that shape our Early Years curriculum. These are split into two important and interconnected sections – prime and specific:  

The ‘prime’ areas of learning and development are: 

Communication and language: 

• Listening, attention and understanding  

• Speaking  

Physical development:  

• Gross motor skills 
• Fine motor skills 

Personal, social and emotional development: 

• Self-regulation 
• Managing self 
• Building relationships 

The ‘specific’ areas of learning and development are: 

Literacy: 

• Comprehension 
• Word reading 
• Writing  

Mathematics: 

• Numbers 

• Numerical patterns 

Understanding the world:  

• Past and present 
• People, culture and communities 
• The natural world 

Expressive arts and design: 

• Creating with materials 
• Being imaginative and expressive

Characteristics of Effective Learning

In organising and implementing our curriculum, we ensure that a broad range of activities and experiences are planned, having regard to the three characteristics of effective teaching and learning in the EYFS: 

• Playing and exploring – children investigate and experience things, use what they know in their play and are willing to try new things.  

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• Active learning – children concentrate, keep on trying if they encounter difficulties and enjoy their achievements.  

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• Creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas and use what they already know to learn new things, and develop strategies for doing things. 

Long Term Curriculum Planning

Early Years Documents