The Cobbs Infant and Nursery School

Within our school curriculum everything is designed to promote the development of each child to prepare them for the opportunities, experiences and responsibilities of life. Teachers carefully plan work that is stimulating, interesting and will arouse children’s natural curiosity whilst teaching key skills and knowledge.

In EYFS practitioners plan challenging and enjoyable experiences for each child in all areas of learning and development. Our youngest children have a strong focus on the three prime areas with the emphasis on developing language and extending vocabulary. We plan a  broad curriculum enabling children to apply and strengthen the prime areas through the specific areas of learning. Children learn through play both initiated by themselves and led by adults. As children move into the reception year there is a greater focus on learning essential skills and knowledge to prepare for the move to year 1.

In Key Stage 1 we have designed our curriculum to effectively build on prior learning whilst using our rich locality and the experiences and interests of our children, to ensure learning is engaging and relevant to their lives.

We make sure that the National Curriculum is taught in full as well as additional aspects of the curriculum that we feel are important to our children and the context of our school and current events in the wider world. We know that young children learn best by ‘doing’ therefore practical and first hand experiences are planned wherever possible. By making use of a wealth of local visits and visitors our children are able to learn from shared experiences that bring the curriculum to life.

We plan carefully for the core subjects of Mathematics, English and Science. These subjects are taught discretely but also through other areas of the curriculum to give a context to learning and to extend pupils’ reading, writing and mathematical skills. The foundation subjects of History, Geography, Art and Design, Design and Technology are taught mainly through our topics, with Music, PE, RE and PSHE taught discretely with links being made wherever possible. Teachers make learning fun and challenging by presenting exciting activities which fire pupils’ imaginations. The children begin new topics by sharing the questions they would like to explore, which leads to the children’s active involvement in their learning and keeps their learning experiences meaningful. Teachers deliver our curriculum thoughtfully, utilising different teaching strategies including cooperative learning, which ensure maximum active pupil involvement during lessons.

For further details of our curriculum please click on the links to the documents below.

Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum Statement

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is based around four guiding principles that shape practice in our school.. They are reflected in our curriculum and its delivery. They are:-

A Unique Child

Every child is a 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 the development of caring, secure and positive relationships with parents/carers and the adults who are supporting them in school.

Enabling Environments

The internal and external environment plays a key role in supporting and extending children’s development and learning with adults teaching and supporting children with different interests and needs.

Learning and Development

Children develop and learn in different ways and at different rates and all areas of learning and development are equally important and inter-connected. The framework covers the education and care of all children in the early years, provision, including children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

Foundation Stage Curriculum

The children follow the Early Years Foundation Stage framework (EYFS).  We consider the needs, interests and development of each child to plan challenging, relevant and enjoyable experiences for each child in all areas of learning and development.

There are three prime areas and four specific areas of learning and development in the Foundation Stage Framework curriculum.

Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children's curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are the:-

Prime Areas:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSE)
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development.

The prime areas are then strengthened and applied in the specific areas.

The children’s learning is further enhanced by the use of the Wild Garden, school grounds, IT Suite, library, and school hall for dance and P.E.  The children also join the school for some assemblies and other special activities. This enables us to feel part of a larger community.

For details of the Foundation Stage Curriculum please see the Statutory Framework for Early Years below.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework

For more details on our teaching of reading and phonics please see our English section.

Parents' Guide to EYFS

Development Matters is non-statutory guidance for the EYFS.

Development Matters - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Birth to 5 Matters is non-statutory guidance for the EYFS.

Birth To 5 Matters – Guidance by the sector, for the sector

Birthto5Matters-download.pdf

‘What to expect, when?’ is an easy to use guide for parents on their child’s learning and development in the EYFS.