Intent

At Edale Rise, our EYFS curriculum is designed to give every child the strongest possible start to their education by developing secure foundations across all areas of learning. Rooted in the EYFS Statutory Framework and Development Matters (DfE, 2021), our curriculum is knowledge-based, cumulative and carefully sequenced from Nursery into Key Stage 1 and beyond.

We prioritise the development of the three Characteristics of Effective Learning—playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically—alongside the prime and specific areas of learning.

Our curriculum is underpinned by the four key EYFS principles:

• The Unique Child
• Positive Relationships
• Enabling Environments
• Learning and Development

We aim to:

• Develop confident, independent learners with a strong sense of curiosity
• Build essential knowledge, vocabulary and early language
• Secure strong foundations in literacy and mathematics
• Support children’s personal, social and emotional development
• Prepare children effectively for the next stage of their education

Implementation

Our curriculum is delivered through a carefully balanced combination of structured teaching, purposeful provision and high-quality interactions.

Curriculum Design

• A knowledge-based curriculum ensures progression and prepares children for future learning.
• Learning is organised across the prime and specific areas, with clear progression in skills and knowledge.

The Curiosity Approach

• Our learning environment reflects elements of the Curiosity Approach, using open-ended, authentic resources and meaningful learning provocations.  
• Children learn through exploration, enquiry and play, supported by indoor and outdoor continuous provision and free-flow learning.  

Play and Adult Interaction

• Adults skilfully move along a continuum of play, combining child-initiated and adult-guided learning.  
• Staff use sustained shared thinking to deepen learning, extend language and develop higher-order thinking.
• Interactions are responsive and carefully timed, using observation and professional judgement to support each child’s individual learning journey.  

Teaching for Deep Learning

• Staff support learning through:
  • Consolidation (revisiting and embedding learning)
  • Extension (building on what children know)
  • Provocation (challenging thinking and promoting curiosity)  
• High-quality questioning and modelling promote progression from lower to higher-order thinking.

Learning Environment

• Calm, purposeful environments with open-ended resources enable independence and creativity.
• Continuous provision is enhanced with carefully planned provocations linked to children’s interests and prior learning.
• Strong emphasis is placed on language development, connection-making and vocabulary acquisition through rich interactions.

Impact

The impact of our EYFS curriculum is evident in the way children develop as confident, capable and motivated learners.

Children:

• Demonstrate high levels of engagement, curiosity and independence
• Apply their knowledge and skills across different areas of learning
• Show strong progress in communication, language and early literacy
• Develop secure foundations in mathematics and understanding of the world
• Build positive relationships and demonstrate effective self-regulation and resilience
• Are well-prepared for the transition into Key Stage 1, with the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for future success

Evidence of impact is seen through:

• High-quality interactions and sustained involvement in learning
• Children’s ability to think critically, make connections and solve problems
• Ongoing assessment of what children know and can do
• Strong progress from starting points across all areas of learning