EYFS CURRICULUM

At St. Michael’s we offer a broad and balanced curriculum that provides high-quality teaching relevant to the needs of the children across our school. Central to all we do in school is their spiritual, moral, social, cultural, intellectual, physical and creative development.  Below is our school overview of the intention, implementation and impact of the curriculum in our Early Years.

Intent

To provide every EYFS child with a secure and nurturing Christian environment in order that they are equipped with an excellent education, where they will experience the 7 areas of learning through a balance of child-initiated and adult-led learning using continuous play and small group activities. This will support them meeting their God-given potential and prepare them for Lower Phase (Key Stage1).

Implementation 

Through topic-based themes that link to children’s interests, there is continuous provision activities and phonics.  Learning is carefully planned by the staff to support early reading, writing, mathematics and language development as well as social skills and the understanding of faith.

The curriculum incorporates the statutory requirements of the National Curriculum 2014 and other experiences and opportunities which best meet the learning and developmental needs of the children in our school, allowing them to flourish. The curriculum provides children with memorable experiences, in addition to diverse and rich opportunities from which they can learn and develop a range of transferable skills.  

Age-related expectations combine the acquisition of knowledge and development of skills to create a purposeful and exciting learning journey for every child. The curriculum has high expectations to combine transferable skills, demonstrate a breadth of vocabulary and develop strong, meaningful cross-curricular links. Inviting classroom environments stimulate learners and engage them in quality thinking and reasoning. Explicit weekly and medium-term planning is responsive to children’s needs; incorporating holistic approaches to teaching and learning.

Pupils work towards the Early Learning Goals of the Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum in Reception. The majority of children move onto the National Curriculum Programmes of Study at the start of Year 1. Throughout this period and beyond all children are still developing their phonic knowledge through the 'Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised' Programme and developing their fluency in reading through the school’s structured approach to the daily teaching of reading.

Impact

From their different starting points, all children will make good progress academically, emotionally, creatively, socially, physically and spiritually. Knowledge, understanding and skills will be secured and embedded so that children attain highly and are fully prepared for Key Stage 1.

• They will have strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and will listen respectfully and with tolerance to the views of others.

• They will take pride in all that they do, always striving to do their best and meet their God-given potential.

• They will demonstrate emotional resilience and the ability to persevere when they encounter challenges.

• They will develop a sense of self-awareness and become confident in their own abilities.

• They will be kind, respectful and honest, demonstrate inclusive attitudes and have a sense of their role in our wider society and God’s world.

The ‘Characteristics of Effective Learning’ contribute towards children’s skills for life and independence. These include:-

• Finding out and exploring

• Playing with what they know

• Be willing to have a go

• Showing concentration and focus

• Keep on trying

• Enjoying what they are achieving

• Having their own ideas

• Making links

• Choosing how to carry a task out.

In St. Michael’s Early Years we create many opportunities for children to practice their independent skills. This includes attending to personal hygiene and care; following daily routines such as tidying up after snack time and learning activities; selecting and choosing their own resources; and staying safe in their environment. We develop social skills such as turn-taking, sharing resources, following and carrying out instructions, collaborative play, waiting patiently and being kind towards adults and peers.

Below you will find a generic timetable of what is covered each day in Red and Green class. We also give the children a ‘visual timetable’ to share with their family at home and this supports our home school partnership.

• EYFS Generic Timetable

• Curriculum Offer