Nursery Curriculum
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) describes the important period of your child’s development from birth to the end of Reception, when they are five years old.
These early years provide the foundations for your child’s future learning, development and wellbeing. We want every child to enjoy a happy, exciting and secure start to their education, where they feel safe, valued and confident to explore, play and learn.
At Ryhope Infant School Academy, we recognise that every child is unique. Through a balance of purposeful play, adult-led experiences and opportunities to explore independently, we support children to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence they need for the next stage of their learning.
All early years settings, including nurseries, pre-schools, Reception classes and childminders, follow the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework. This sets out the standards that must be met to ensure children are well cared for, kept safe and supported to learn and develop.
The EYFS focuses on giving children the best possible start by developing the skills they need to become confident, independent and enthusiastic learners. We provide a broad range of experiences that support children’s communication, physical development, personal and social development, early literacy and mathematics, understanding of the world and creativity.
Our aim is to build strong foundations for school readiness, while nurturing each child’s individual interests, strengths and curiosity. By working closely with families, we help every child to thrive and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Learning and Development in the EYFS
In the Early Years, children learn through play, exploration and real-life experiences. They are encouraged to investigate, ask questions, try new things and develop their own ideas. We provide a wide range of experiences that allow children to be active, creative and curious as they learn.
We recognise that every child is unique. Children have different interests, strengths, experiences and abilities, and they develop at different rates. Our EYFS curriculum is designed to be flexible so that we can respond to each child’s individual needs and interests.
The EYFS curriculum is organised into seven areas of learning and development, divided into three Prime Areas and four Specific Areas.
The Three Prime Areas
The Prime Areas are particularly important for building the foundations for children’s development and future learning:
- Communication and Language – developing listening, attention, understanding, speaking and communication skills.
- Physical Development – developing movement, coordination, strength and control, as well as learning about healthy choices and self-care.
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development – developing confidence, independence, relationships, emotional wellbeing and an understanding of feelings and behaviour.
The Four Specific Areas
As children develop within the Prime Areas, they are supported to develop skills and knowledge across four Specific Areas:
- Literacy – developing a love of stories, books, rhymes and early writing, as well as building the foundations for reading.
- Mathematics – developing an understanding of numbers, counting, patterns, shapes, space and measures.
- Understanding the World – exploring the world around them, developing their understanding of people, communities, nature, technology and the environment.
- Expressive Arts and Design – exploring creativity through art, music, dance, role play, design and imaginative experiences.
These seven areas are used to plan a rich and engaging curriculum that reflects each child’s individual development, interests and needs. Through a balance of child-led play and carefully planned adult-led experiences, we provide children with opportunities to develop, practise and apply their skills in meaningful ways.
Our aim is to nurture curious, confident and independent learners, giving every child the foundations they need to flourish throughout their school journey.
