EYFS Intent Statement

 

In early years, we aim to create a nurturing, safe, and stimulating environment where every child feels valued, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We believe in laying strong foundations for each child's learning  journey by focusing on their academic social and  emotional development. Our curriculum is designed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity, and instil a genuine love for learning that will last throughout our children’s lives.

We place a strong emphasis on building resilience in our children, encouraging them to approach challenges with a positive mindset and confidence.

Our staff work closely with children to create trusting and secure relationships, which are key to enabling them to develop confidence and self-esteem. Through careful observation and  individualised support, we ensure every child receives the provision that they need to succeed.

We are committed to delivering  a rich curriculum, providing the cultural capital we know our pupils need, equipping them with the essential knowledge, skills and understanding required for success. To achieve this, we focus on the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning — play and exploration, active learning and creative and critical thinking.  This is essential for fostering curiosity, resilience, and problem-solving skills.

Our curriculum develops pupils’ speaking and listening skills and places a strong emphasis on personal, social, and emotional development (PSED). Our enabling environment, combined with warm and skilful adult interactions, supports children as they start to connect their learning with play and exploration, fostering their development and growth.

We are committed to delivering a rich, play-based curriculum that forms a strong foundation for the development of core skills in communication, language, literacy, and mathematics.

In preparation for year 1, we carefully guide children towards greater independence, ensuring they are ready for the next stage of their education. We provide a smooth transition by fostering key skills such as self-regulation and a love for reading and writing,

By the end of reception, we aim for our children to be confident, capable, and enthusiastic learners who are well-prepared to embrace the challenges and opportunities of year 1 and beyond.

Implementation

The implementation of our curriculum is carefully balanced between child-initiated and adult-directed activities.  During focused group time, adults systematically check understanding, quickly identify and address misconceptions, and provide timely verbal feedback. Additionally, children are given ample time to engage in exploration through a variety of hands-on experiences, fostering curiosity and independent learning.

The timetable is carefully structured to include rigorous, focused teaching sessions in phonics, literacy and mathematics, ensuring the development of essential basic skills. Additionally, there is a strong emphasis on personal,  social and emotional development (PSED), supporting the holistic growth of each child. Rich first-hand experiences including those in the classroom, outdoors, during school trips and as a result of visiting specialists enrich the curriculum, fostering awe and wonder. 

Impact

Our curriculum is designed to meet the needs of all our children. Our children will grow to be confident, competent lifelong learners and good citizens. Children at Westminster experience a smooth transition  between Nursery, Reception and beyond. Effective communication and collaboration ensure that children leave the EYFS with a solid foundation of learning of which to build upon.

The impact of the EYFS curriculum is reflected in the development of our happy and confident learners over the year in each of the seven areas of learning. Assessment starts with careful observations which are then used to inform planning. Summative assessments are made three times per year and formative assessments are an integral part of our planning process. We dedicate time to evaluating how children are learning by engaging in conversations with them, reviewing their work, observing their learning experiences and analysing data. This approach ensures we understand each child’s progress in all areas of the EYFS curriculum and can adapt our teaching to support their individual development.

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