EYFS
Alwoodley EYFS
Intent:
At Alwoodley primary our motto ‘Learning together, growing stronger’ underpins our approach. We believe all learners are entitled to an ambitious, knowledge-rich curriculum which will open doors and maximise life chances. Our curriculum has been thoughtfully and uniquely designed to cater for our learners and is constantly reflected upon. We provide a broad and balanced curriculum which addresses the children’s social, emotional, physical, intellectual, moral and cultural development within a safe, secure and stimulating environment.
We place high priority on the importance of play, risk taking and cognitive thinking in the early years and know that through developing these skills pupils are able to:
Build their confidence
Develop positive relationships
Develop a positive sense of self
Learn to explore and take risks
Think about and solve problems
Relate to others
Develop curiosity and a motivation to learn
Develop their own communication styles
Our whole school ‘Golden Threads’ are weaved throughout our planning and curriculum to ensure that the children are equipped with essential skills they need to succeed in life. Our ‘Golden Threads’ are:
Cognitive education
Reading
Personal Development
Through our curriculum, our aim is to teach all children the skills and knowledge in order that they reach the seventeen Early Learning Goals set by the Department of Education at the end of Reception.
Our children will leave the Foundation Stage at Alwoodley Primary School with an increased knowledge and sense of the physical world around them, their community and the wider world. They will respect the world around them and others. Our pupils will have a greater sense of themselves and the changing environment.
Implementation:
At Alwoodley, our curriculum follows the Early Years Statutory Framework 2021 for the Early Years Foundation Stage and the four guiding principles. The four guiding principles are:
Every child is a unique child, and they are constantly learning and can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured
Children learn to be strong and independent through positive relationships
Children learn and develop well in enabling environments with teaching and support from adults, who respond to their individual interests and needs and help them to build their learning over time. Children benefit from a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers.
Children develop and learn at different rates. The framework covers the education and care of all children in early years provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The Early Years Statutory Framework 2021 specifies the requirements for learning and development in the EYFS for the:
Prime Areas- Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal and Social Development
Specific areas- Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design
Alwoodley’s EYFS Curriculum has been designed to reflect the needs and interests of our children. Based around seasonal topics, each half term offers a wealth of high-quality storybooks, exciting cross curricular learning opportunities and engaging and stimulating play opportunities to ensure high levels of engagement and promote a sense of awe and wonder about the world around them. We support children to become resourceful and resilient citizens, finding humour in the everyday and being confident to take risks, ask questions and explore!
Our ambitious curriculum is planned to ensure progression from Nursery through to Reception and embeds key skills and knowledge in preparation for Key Stage 1.
Children in EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active and thinking critically and creatively and this takes place both indoors and outdoors. Children make their own decisions about where they learn best and teachers ensure that there are opportunities for all areas of learning both inside and outside.
To see our curriculum in action, follow us on Instagram @AlwoodleyEYFS