EYFS

Our EYFS Curriculum Intent

At our school, the intent of our Early Years provision is to provide a nurturing and stimulating environment where children aged 3-5 years can thrive, develop essential skills, and lay a solid foundation for their future education. We aim to provide an outstanding Early Years experience that promotes personal, social, emotional, and cognitive development while fostering a love for learning.  

Our curriculum is therefore the cultural capital we know our pupils need so that they can gain the knowledge, skills and understanding they require for success. They can only do that if we embed the right habits for learning through the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning – Play and Exploration, Active Learning and Creative and Critical Thinking. 

Our aim is to create a learning environment and build relationships which support, enhance and invite a child’s curiosity, confidence and individual competency to flourish regardless of backgrounds, circumstances or needs. We aim to work collaboratively with parents and carers to encourage independent, enthusiastic learners who thrive and reach their full potential. It is our intent that children who enter our EYFS begin their lifelong learning journey by developing physically, verbally, cognitively and emotionally whilst also embedding a positive attitude to school and a love of learning. 

 To ensure children make good progress, it is our intent to take into consideration their starting points and needs of our pupils as they begin their learning journey.  Every child has access to a broad, balanced and differentiated curriculum which prepares them for now and for the future in terms of opportunities and experiences. Following personal interests and individual needs, allows us to plan and provide opportunities throughout our EYFS curriculum to support learning and development and achieve their next steps.  

Our EYFS curriculum aims to enable our children to be: Confident communicators, compassionate citizen, Independent individual and competent and creative learners.  

Implementation of our EYFS Curriculum

At St Francis we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. This is made up of four overriding principles which our early year’s education is based upon: 

• Unique Child – Every child is unique child who is constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured. 
• Positive Relationships – Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships. 
• Enabling Environments – Children learn and develop well in enabling environments, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and carers. 
• Learning and Development – Children develop and learn in different ways. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early year’s provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities. 

The curriculum provides a play-based and experiential learning environment, combined with focussed teaching and basic skills, to ensure children make rapid progress before moving onto Year 1. The children in Reception are provided with ample opportunities accessible in our indoor and outdoor provision. They engage in planned, focussed activities as well as self-initiated and free flow activities. The learning experiences within our Early Years are linked to the seven areas of learning and development within the EYFS. These areas are split into three prime areas and four specific areas. The three prime areas are those which the children should develop first and are considered most essential for the healthy development and future learning of our children. we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework. 

Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are: 

• Communication and language; 

• Physical development; and 
• Personal, social and emotional development. 

These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning. 

As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in four specific areas. These are: 

• Literacy; 
• Mathematics; 
• Understanding the world; and 
• Expressive arts and design. 

These seven areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. Our teachers will support your child to make sure that the activities provided are suited to your child’s unique needs.  Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. 

The Impact of our Curriculum

The impact of our Early Years provision is evidenced through the progress, achievements, and positive attitudes of our children. The impact is assessed through multiple methods, including ongoing observations, assessments, and interactions with children, parents, and stakeholders. Key indicators of impact include: 

1. Strong Foundations for Learning: Children demonstrate a solid foundation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for future learning and development, evidenced through assessments and transitions to Key Stage 1.
2. High Levels of Well-being: Children's emotional, social, and personal development is evident in their positive relationships, self-regulation, and resilience.
3. Excellent Progress: Children consistently make excellent progress across all areas of the EYFS curriculum, exceeding expected levels of development.
4. Inclusive Practice: Enhanced inclusion, where all children, regardless of background or abilities, are supported and achieve their full potential.
5. Positive Parental Engagement: High levels of parental involvement, satisfaction, and confidence in their child's Early Years experience, evidenced through feedback and participation.
6. Reflection and Continuous Improvement: A culture of reflection and continuous improvement is embedded, where staff regularly seek professional development and implement innovative approaches based on the latest research.