Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

EYFS curriculum at John Donne

1. Curriculum Intent

Our Early Years curriculum is designed to give every child the best possible start to their education, recognising that early learning provides the foundation for future success. The curriculum is built around the seven areas of learning within the EYFS framework and prioritises the development of communication, language, personal and social development.

We recognise that children arrive with different starting points, so the curriculum is adapted to meet their needs while building key knowledge, vocabulary and skills. Through rich experiences and high-quality interactions, children develop curiosity, independence and a love of learning so that they are ready for Key Stage 1.

2. Curriculum Implementation

The EYFS curriculum is delivered through a balance of:

• Adult-led teaching
• Child-initiated play
• Continuous provision indoors and outdoors

Daily teaching includes:

• Systematic phonics sessions
• Focused literacy and mathematics teaching
• Small-group adult-guided learning

Children learn through exploration, investigation and meaningful experiences. Opportunities for talk, storytelling, problem-solving and creative play are embedded throughout the day to deepen learning and vocabulary development.

3. Curriculum Organisation

The curriculum is often structured through:

• Half-term topics or themes
• High-quality core texts
• Continuous provision areas (construction, role play, creative, maths, small world, etc.)
• Learning experiences linked to the local community

These experiences help children develop knowledge and understanding of the world while practising key foundational skills.

4. Assessment

Assessment is ongoing and includes:

• Observations of children’s learning
• Professional judgement
• Discussion with children
• Evidence from play and adult-led tasks

This information is used to identify next steps in learning and to adapt teaching.

5. Curriculum Impact

The impact of the EYFS curriculum is seen in children who:

• Are confident communicators
• Demonstrate independence and resilience
• Show curiosity about the world
• Have secure early reading, writing and number knowledge

By the end of Reception, children are expected to achieve a Good Level of Development (GLD) and be ready to access the Key Stage 1 curriculum.