The Foundations curriculum is designed to meet the needs of our Early Years and Key Stage1 children. It is based on the principles and practice of play-based learning, taking our lead from the uniquely individual interests and motivations of our children, within a high quality and well-structured environment.  

This promotes the highest levels of engagement in a structured and supportive learning environment. The Foundations curriculum is based on ‘Development Matters’ (2021). It is delivered mainly through topic-based planning which aims to offer a wide variety of themes to provoke interest throughout the year. Children accessing the Foundations pathway are aged from 2-7 and developmentally range between 8-60 months.  

Rationale: 

Through the EYFS Pathway, we aim to ensure that are children are: 

  • Able to use appropriate communication skills to express needs, wants and thoughts to those around them and understand that this is reciprocal. 
  • Making as much physical progress they are capable of achieving.  
  • Given opportunities to develop a strong sense of self. 
  • Confident in their relationships with adults and peers in order to grow and make progress. 
  • Able to explore and express their own feelings. 
  • As resilient and independent as they can possibly be and can show perseverance in the face of challenge. 
  • Given opportunities to explore and develop curiosity, creativity, fascination, awe and problem solving. 
  • Given opportunities to develop understanding of rules and expectations. 
  • Given opportunities to develop Literacy and Maths skills as is appropriate to their stage of development. 
  • Given a range of opportunities to learn about the world around them and being part of it. 

Intent: 

The curriculum that is offered through the EYFS Pathway: 

  • Personal, social and emotional development – developing and maintaining relationships with others, understanding own feelings and needs, self-regulation and managing self. Understanding feelings and needs of others. 
  • Physical Development – becoming as physically able as possible on an individual level, managing own needs and care as independently as possible, developing appropriate gross motor skills and fine motor skills. 
  • Communication and Language – developing crucial listening and attention skills, developing understanding and expressive language. 
  • Literacy – Love of reading/ being read to, comprehending what we are hearing. Word reading, expressive language/ writing. 
  • Problem solving and mathematical awareness. 
  • Creative development – art, drama, music, role play. 
  • Understanding of the world around us and our role in it. 

Implementation: 

We achieve our intentions by:  

  • Providing a range of opportunities for play and exploration to support development in all areas of learning. 
  • Providing warm and genuine relationships that children can grow and flourish from. 
  • Providing adult led and scaffolded experiences to support individual learning in all areas. 
  • Regularly reviewing each individual’s needs and next steps to ensure progress. 
  • Ensuring we work closely with the team around each individual to ensure they are making the best progress (parents, medical professionals etc). 
  • Ensuring that we always keep the child at the centre of what we do. 

Impact: 

The impact of the EYFS Pathway provision is demonstrated through the development of pupils who are: 

  • Confident and happy, able to form relationships and understand the expectations and rules in the setting. 
  • Resilient and independent, seek challenge and show a ‘can do’ attitude. 
  • Able to communicate to a range of people their needs, wants and thoughts in different contexts and situations and with different methods as required. 
  • Communicating effectively to those around them. 
  • Making the most of their physical ability and skills despite individual challenges and barriers. 
  • Enthusiastic to engage with a range of resources and experiences, even if they are completely new to them. They are keen to learn and curious about the world around them. 
  • Able to solve a range of problems through trial and error. 
  • Developing an enthusiasm for stories and being read to, seeking out books independently and associating books and stories with positive experiences. 
  • Interested in play and exploration in a variety of contexts and are active learners. 
  • Demonstrate key characteristics of effective learning. 
  • Are interested in mathematical concepts and exploring these. 
  • Think creatively and explore a range of ideas, acting on these as appropriate.