Curriculum

EYFS – Nursery & Reception

Overview of the EYFS Curriculum

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is a very important stage in a child’s life. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life Throughout the Nursery and Reception year children will partake in an ambitious curriculum which is designed in a sequential way to ensure progress towards our end of year curricular goals.  Our curriculum incorporates everything we want the children to experience, learn and be able to do. It meets all the requirements of the educational programmes in the statutory framework for the Early Year Foundation Stage (EYFS) 2021, and has the flexibility to allow and respond quickly to children’s new interests and/or needs. Our intent for our children to enter the next stage of their education ready to tackle new challenges with confidence and a positive mind-set.

The four guiding principles help to shape our approach:

• Every child is a unique child, who is 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, in which their experiences respond to their individual needs and there is a strong partnership between practitioners and parents and/or carers
• The learning and development of each child will be different

We plan and support the children in developing the Characteristics of Effective learning and acknowledge these are an important part of how children play and learn both indoors and outdoors.

• Playing and exploring– children investigate and experience things, and ‘have a go’.
• Active learning– children concentrate and keep on trying if they encounter difficulties, and enjoy achievements.
• Creating and thinking critically– children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things.

The EYFS covers seven different areas of learning. We believe children learn best through play, first- hand experiences and talk. We ensure there is a broad, balanced and progressive learning environment and curriculum. Staff plan engaging activities based on the children’s developmental needs and interests. Our indoor and outdoor environments support the children in all areas of learning to develop skills, acquiring knowledge and demonstrate their understanding. Planned first-hand experiences such as cookery, visitors, trips, celebration days and sport coach sessions also provide additional, rich learning opportunities for the children. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected.

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 three prime areas:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED) – Sense of Self, Understanding Emotions, Making Relationships  

Communication and  Language (CL) – Listening, Attention and Understanding, Speaking

Physical Development (PD) – Moving and Handling, Health and Self-care

The four specific areas through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied are:

Literacy (L) – Reading, Writing

Mathematics (M) – Number,  Shape, Space and Measures

Understanding the World (UW) – People and Communities, The Natural World

Expressive Art and Design (EAD) – Creating with Materials,  Being Imaginative and Expressive

Communication and Language – This area of learning involves giving children opportunities to experience a language rich environment; to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves; to ask questions and offer explanations for why things might happen and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Physical Development – This area of learning involves providing children opportunities for young children to be active and interactive; to develop their co-ordination, control and movement both on a large and small scale from climbing to using a pencil to write.  Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food.

Personal, Social & Emotional development – This area of learning involves helping children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others; to form positive relationships and develop respect for others; to develop social skills and learn how to manage their feelings; to understand appropriate behaviour in groups; and to have confidence in their own ability to try new activities and show independence, resilience and persevering with a challenge.

Literacy – This area of learning involves encouraging children to link sounds and letters and to begin to read and write. Children are given access to a wide range of reading materials (books, poems and other written materials) to ignite their interest. Children sing rhymes and retell stories in their own words and recently introduced vocabulary.

Mathematics – This area of learning involves providing children with opportunities to develop and improve their skills in counting, understanding and using numbers, calculating number bonds and simple addition and subtraction problems; and to describe shapes, spaces and measures.

Understanding the World – This area of learning involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment. They also compare their similarities and differences.

Expressive Arts & Design – This area of learning involves enabling children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts, ideas and feelings through a variety of activities in art, music, movement, dance, role-play and design and technology.

We believe that teaching and learning should be relevant, imaginative, motivating, enjoyable and challenging. We have a structured curriculum, which allows children to become involved in experiences, which are often based on real life situations, and their own experiences. In order to maximise children’s interests we have six exciting learning contexts, one per half term, through which the above seven areas of learning will be delivered.

Nursery Curriculum Maps

Reception Curriculum Maps

Key Stage 1 – Year 1 & Year 2

Overview of the Curriculum 

At Watford Field School Infant and Nursery, our Key Stage 1 curriculum builds on the strong foundations established in our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Children move from the play-based exploration of Nursery and Reception into a more structured learning environment while continuing to develop curiosity, independence and a love of learning.

Our curriculum is guided by our school vision: “Being Kind, Confident Minds, Ready for Life Long Learning.” This vision underpins everything we do and ensures that children continue to feel valued, supported and inspired as they progress into Year 1 and Year 2. Through engaging lessons and meaningful experiences, we nurture confident learners who are encouraged to be kind, resilient and proud of their achievements.

In EYFS, children learn through play, exploration and first-hand experiences across the seven areas of learning. As they move into Key Stage 1, we carefully build on these early skills and knowledge, supporting children to deepen their understanding and apply their learning across a broad and balanced curriculum. Our approach ensures continuity in learning while gradually introducing greater independence, challenge and subject knowledge.

The Key Stage 1 curriculum follows the National Curriculum and is delivered through engaging  cross-curricular learning. Subjects such as English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography, Art, Design Technology, Computing, Music, Physical Education, Religious Education and PSHE are taught in ways that make learning purposeful and connected. Our curriculum maps ensure that knowledge and skills are developed progressively across Year 1 and Year 2, allowing children to revisit and build upon prior learning.

Reading, writing and mathematics remain central to our curriculum, with a strong emphasis on developing confident readers and communicators. Through high-quality phonics teaching and rich opportunities to talk, read and write across the curriculum, children grow in confidence and develop a lifelong enjoyment of language and stories. Please see below for more information about how phonics is taught.

Alongside academic learning, we place great importance on developing the whole child. Our values, including responsibility, perseverance, respect and resilience are woven through everyday learning, assemblies and discussions. These values help children develop positive relationships, understand the world around them and become thoughtful members of our school community.

At Watford Field School Infant and Nursery we are proud of our diverse community and actively celebrate the different religions, cultures and backgrounds of our children and families. Through our curriculum and school life we promote respect and understanding of others, including celebration days, our Language of the Month and our Value of the Month, which help children learn about kindness, respect and equality. These opportunities allow children to share their own experiences and learn about the traditions and beliefs of others, helping them to develop an appreciation of diversity and preparing them for life in a multicultural society. Parents and carers have the legal right to withdraw their child from Religious Education (RE) lessons if they wish; if you would like to discuss this, please contact the school so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Throughout Key Stage 1, children continue to learn through exploration, creativity and real-life experiences such as trips, visitors and practical activities. This helps to make learning memorable, meaningful and exciting. Our aim is for every child to leave Key Stage 1 as a kind, confident learner who is well prepared for the next stage of their education and ready to continue their journey of lifelong learning.

Year 1 Curriculum Maps

Year 2 Curriculum Maps

Reading and Phonics

At Watford Field School Infant and Nursery we teach early reading and phonics using Read Write Inc. Phonics, a systematic phonics programme developed by Ruth Miskin. We are passionate about helping every child to read accurately and fluently, spell words confidently and develop a love of reading.

Read Write Inc. is a phonics programme that is designed to help children of all abilities make rapid progress. Through lively, engaging lessons, children learn the 44 sounds in the English language, how to blend sounds to read words (decoding) and how to spell and write words (encoding).

As children develop confidence in reading, writing and speaking they begin to build their understanding of texts and develop their own writing ideas. Children read exciting storybooks that are carefully matched to their reading level, helping them experience early success and enjoyment in reading.

How is phonics taught?

Phonics teaching begins in the Early Years and continues throughout Key Stage 1, giving children the strong foundations they need to become successful readers and writers.

Children take part in daily phonics lessons where they practise reading, writing and speaking. During these lessons, they learn new sounds while reviewing sounds they already know, practise reading and spelling words using these sounds, read short texts and storybooks that are carefully matched to their reading level, and work with a partner to practise reading and discuss their learning.

Lessons are lively, fast-paced and interactive, ensuring children remain engaged and make strong progress. Children are regularly assessed and grouped by their reading level so that teaching matches their stage of development.

Parent Guide to Read Write Inc.

Fred Talk

Children are introduced to Fred the Frog, who can only speak in sounds. This is called Fred Talk.

For example:
c–a–t → cat

Children learn to blend the sounds together to read the word.

Special Friends

Some sounds are made using two letters together, such as: sh • ch • th • ng • ay

These are called “Special Friends”, children learn to spot these sounds when reading words.

Reading Books

Children take home decodable reading books that match the sounds they have learned in school. This allows them to practise reading independently and build confidence and fluency.

How Parents Can Help at Home

You can support your child’s reading by:

• reading regularly with your child
• encouraging them to sound out words using phonics
• praising their effort and progress
• talking about the story together
• sharing a range of books at home

Reading little and often helps children develop confidence, fluency and enjoyment of books.

Pronouncing Pure Sounds

When learning phonics, it is important that children say the pure sounds that letters make without adding extra sounds.

For example:

• m – “mmm” not “muh”
• s – “sss” not “suh”
• t – “t” not “tuh”

Using pure sounds helps children to blend sounds together more easily when reading.

Parents can watch pronunciation videos on the Ruth Miskin website to help support learning at home. https://www.ruthmiskin.com/parentsandcarers/?playlist=7781fe9&video=85940c4

Phonics Screening Check

In Year 1, children take part in the Phonics Screening Check, a short national assessment that checks children’s ability to read words using phonics.

If children need extra support, additional phonics teaching is provided to help them continue to develop their reading skills.