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 2021 revised EYFS statutory framework. This framework outlines the standards that schools must meet to provide a safe and healthy environment for children to learn and grow. 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 new framework states, "Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years, and their experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe, and happy childhood is important in its own right." 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