EYFS Curriculum
Intent
In our Early Years Foundation Stage, our personalised curriculum aims to provide all children with the knowledge, skills and understanding they need to be curious and independent learners. We understand that play is an integral part of learning and this is at the heart of our Early Years curriculum. We have developed a stimulating environment that provides exciting opportunities, promotes challenge, exploration, adventure and a real love of learning.
Early Years education plays a crucial role in providing firm foundations for children to build on throughout their future education. We offer a curriculum rich in memorable, hands-on experiences and activities which allow children to make links to real-life experiences through their learning. Our curriculum has been designed to reflect the diverse and vibrant local environment of North London, the nature around our school and the seasons of the year.
It is our intent that all children develop physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally in an environment which values all cultures, communities and people. We aim for our children to be confident and independent, to believe in themselves and interact positively with others. Warm and positive relationships between staff and children, consistent routines and strong relationships with parents are key to achieving this.
Communication and language underpins all seven areas of learning in the EYFS, so our curriculum strives to develop a rich range of vocabulary and become confident communicators with adults and peers.
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Implementation
Children at Vittoria experience the seven areas of learning through a balance of whole class/group teaching and play based learning, as well as investigations and problem solving collaboratively and independently. Teacher-led activities ensure children gain essential knowledge and skills from their teacher; all activities are systematically modelled and children are given sufficient time, support and resources to repeat and practise them. Our inclusive curriculum ensures SEN children are supported through bespoke interventions and support. These include; additional scaffolding and support, regular interventions, use of visuals and signs, pre-teaching of key vocabulary and where appropriate, bespoke individual timetables.
Development of communication and language is at the heart of our curriculum. We prioritise creating a language rich environment through the use of songs, nursery rhymes, stories and ensuring quality interactions between adults and children through sustained, shared thinking. We provide children with a broad vocabulary that excites and challenges our children, which can then be applied in their independent play.
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Children are supported to become early readers at Vittoria through the enjoyment of books and the systematic teaching of phonics. We aim to nurture a life-long joy for literature through a diet of rich and engaging core texts and stories, which reflect our diverse school community. Children are provided with many opportunities to read, enjoy and share books throughout the school day, as well as access to a breadth of vocabulary and print.
Our children develop their gross and then fine motor skills through physical play; children are encouraged to spend time outdoors in their natural environment in all weathers. They develop through exploratory, sensory experiences in areas such as our mud kitchen, water area, large-scale construction, and through our weekly Forest School sessions. Mark-making is at the heart of the provision on both a large and small scale; writing opportunities are present in all areas of the classroom and our enabling adults support children's writing development through scribing and modelling in both purposeful adult-led and child-initiated activities.
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Our broad mathematical curriculum is delivered through guided group work and whole-class activities, and a learning environment which is rich with mathematical opportunities to allow for rehearsal of key skills during independent learning. Our children learn and revisit mathematical concepts systematically throughout the year using the White Rose Maths scheme which has been adapted to suit the needs of our children.
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At Vittoria Primary School, we understand the importance of the partnership between home and school, and we work closely with parents to ensure they are fully involved as their children's first educators. Parents receive regular workshops on how best to support their child at home, are encouraged to play an active role in enrichment activities such as trips and celebration days and are invited for regular feedback on their child's progress through an inviting open-door policy.
Assessment plays an important part in our teaching and learning process; children are assessed in relation to the Development Matters statements, as well as their progress towards the Early Learning Goals. These judgements are made on the basis of accumlative observations and in-depth knowledge of the children acquired through ongoing assessment. These ongoing assessments are used to inform planning and next steps in teaching and learning for all children throughout the year.
Impact
The impact for our children is simple; they make accelerated progress in all areas of learning from their individual starting points. They become more confident speakers with a wider vocabulary and they are able to regulate emotions and solve problems independently. Our children feel safe, happy and excited to learn, and leave our EYFS with the foundation skills to build upon in Year 1.
EYFS - Long Term Plan (Cycle A)
Starting Reception: Skills to Practise
Urban Forest School (Parent/Carer Information)
We are part of the Maamulaha network of schools and were part of the working party to create this handbook:
A Maamulaha Vision and Principles Handbook for Early Years Education
