At St Ignatius Primary School, we believe that learning should be child-centred, reflecting the needs, experiences, and interests of each child in our care. Our Early Years curriculum is designed to engage and challenge every child through a range of stimulating, enjoyable activities. We recognise that young children thrive in a safe, structured environment that allows them to grow and develop at their own pace, offering both security and the opportunity to explore. Our setting encourages children to take risks, investigate, ask questions, and foster curiosity and a love of learning. In the Early Years, play is central to how children learn and grow.

Early Years Curriculum

At St Ignatius, our goal is to provide a broad, balanced, and enriched curriculum that supports every child in reaching their full potential—socially, emotionally, physically, and intellectually. We recognise each child as a unique individual with distinct needs, and we value and celebrate their achievements. Learning at our school is designed to be a rewarding and enjoyable experience, where children have the opportunity to explore, investigate, discover, create, practice, revise, and consolidate their knowledge, skills, and understanding.

Our Early Years Practitioners plan using the EYFS statutory framework. This framework outlines the standards that schools must meet to provide a safe and healthy environment for children to learn and develop well. It fosters 'school readiness' and lays the foundation for future progress in both school and life.

The curriculum sets the standards for learning, development, and care for children from birth to age five. As the framework states, "All children deserve the care and support they need to have the best start in life. Children learn and develop at a faster rate from birth to five years old than at any other time in their lives, so their experiences in early years have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe, and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high-quality early learning provide the foundation children need to fulfil their potential." At St Ignatius, we are committed to giving every child the best possible start in their educational journey.

Areas of Learning

We adhere to the Statutory Framework of the EYFS and the characteristic principles that shape practice within Early Years settings: 

• 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; and
• creating and thinking critically – children have and develop their own ideas, make links between ideas, and develop strategies for doing things

The curriculum focuses on 7 Areas of Learning within the Foundation Stage. Each of these have Early Learning Goals to be achieved by the end of the Reception year. Play underpins the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage. The children are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities which are either child initiated or adult led.

 These consist of 3 Prime Areas, which underpin the whole of the EYFS curriculum:

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

The other four Areas of Learning are known as the Specific Areas:

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Curriculum Milestones

We have carefully developed a sequential curriculum that establishes a strong foundation for children’s learning, aiming to ensure they transition into Year 1 with confidence and readiness. This curriculum is designed with a clear progression of skills and knowledge that builds on itself, creating a cohesive learning journey. By interleaving opportunities to revisit key concepts throughout the year, we reinforce understanding and promote long-term retention. This approach allows children to deepen their knowledge and skills by revisiting previously learned material in varied contexts, helping to solidify their learning. We intend for children to develop a broad and deep understanding of the world through a balanced curriculum that incorporates engaging topics, themes, and cultural capital experiences. By exposing them to a variety of real-world contexts, we help them build curiosity, resilience, and confidence in their learning.

The structure of our curriculum is firmly rooted in the principles of Development Matters, setting high expectations for where we want our children to be by the end of Reception. Our aim is not only to meet developmental milestones but to provide a robust preparation that exceeds these benchmarks, guiding children towards a smooth transition into the more structured learning environment of Year 1.