Curriculum Overview

Children in EYFS follow a curriculum that is child-led and free flowing. We provide opportunities in play that inspire and motivate their learning. The Early Learning Goals provide a framework for the children to learn, but the curriculum content is child-led and may change depending on the children’s interests and enthusiasms.

Term 1 – All about me

This topic helps children settle into school and develop a sense of identity and belonging. Children have lots of opportunities to explore their own interests, families, and what makes them unique.

We share family photos, paint self-portraits, enjoy role-play in the home corner, and experience our favourite activities. Children begin to learn to recognise and write their names, explore emotions through a variety of stories, and practise turn-taking in group discussions and activities.

We learn to build self-confidence, manage feelings, and develop positive relationships (PSED). Children strengthen Communication and Language through talking about themselves and listening to others. Early literacy and mark-making skills are encouraged through name writing, drawing, sensory play and construction.

• Phonics: Through Unlocking Letters and Sounds, children begin Phase 2 phonics, learning initial letter sounds and beginning to recognise simple words. They practise listening skills, oral blending, and segmenting through songs, stories, and phonics games.
• Mathematics: Children begin developing early number understanding by subitising numbers to 5 and practising one-to-one correspondence when counting objects in play and daily routines. Songs, counting games, and practical activities help children recognise small quantities and begin to understand number.
• RE – Creation and Covenant: Children learn that God created the world, our families, and each of us. They listen to the story of Creation and we talk about how we can care for and respect God’s world and the environment. Children reflect on how we are all special and part of God’s creation.

Term 2 – Let’s Celebrate and Remember

In this term, we explore different celebrations, traditions, and special events from many cultures and religions. They begin to understand that people celebrate in different ways.

These experiences include celebrating festivals such as Christmas, Diwali, or Hanukkah, tasting traditional foods, creating decorations, listening to stories about celebrations, and inviting families to share traditions.

Our speaking and listening skills improve through discussing celebrations and retelling stories. Creative activities such as music, dance, and craft enable children to express themselves through Expressive Arts and Design.

• Phonics: Children continue Unlocking Letters and Sounds Phase 2, learning additional letter sounds and continuing to blend and segment simple CVC words. They practise reading and writing simple words and captions through structured phonics sessions and activities.
• Mathematics: Children develop their number knowledge through counting to 10 and exploring partitioning numbers 2, 3, and 4 using practical resources. They also develop subitising skills by learning to subitise numbers from 6-10. Counting and number recognition are embedded through songs, games, and practical activities.
• RE – Prophecy and Promise: Children learn the story of the Annunciation and the birth of Jesus. They hear how Mary was chosen to have a baby called Jesus and how Mary and Joseph travelled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born in a stable. Children explore the meaning of Christmas and how it is celebrated. Children take part in an EYFS/KS1 Nativity performance.

Term 3 – Polar Regions

This topic encourages children to explore Arctic and Antarctic environments and learn about the animals, landscapes, and weather found in these cold regions.

This topic gives us the opportunity to explore ice, freezing and melting investigations. We explore different environments, ask questions about the natural world, learn about animals such as polar bears and penguins, create snowy landscapes in small-world play, and discover how people and animals survive in very cold climates. Children compare polar environments with their own surroundings and talk about different places around the world.

Communication and Language develops through describing what they see, sharing ideas, and learning new vocabulary related to cold climates and animals.

• Phonics: Children continue progressing through Unlocking Letters and Sounds, consolidating Phase 2 and beginning Phase 3 phonemes. They practise blending and segmenting to read and write simple words and captions, developing early reading and writing skills.
• Mathematics: Children extend their counting skills to 20, developing greater confidence when counting objects and actions. Through Number Sense Maths, they explore number bonds to 5, including simple subtraction, using practical resources, for example, ice cubes, penguin counters, or natural materials.
• RE – Galilee to Jerusalem: Children hear stories about Jesus’ life and teachings. They learn that Jesus welcomes everyone. We learn some of the stories of Jesus including the story of Jesus feeding the 5000. Children reflect on how Jesus cares for people and think about ways we can help and care for others.

Term 4 – Dinosaurs

Children explore the exciting world of dinosaurs and prehistoric life, encouraging curiosity about the past and developing their understanding of the natural world and its wonders.

Children begin by sharing what they already know about dinosaurs and learning new facts about different types of dinosaurs. They explore what dinosaurs looked like, what they ate, and where they lived, learning new vocabulary such as scales, claws, long neck, herbivore, and carnivore.

Through stories, discussions, and practical activities, children learn about life in prehistoric times and begin to understand that dinosaurs lived a very long time ago. They are introduced to simple historical vocabulary such as past, timeline, and prehistory.

Children begin to think about where dinosaurs are now and how we know about them. They learn that dinosaurs are extinct and that scientists find fossils to learn about the past. Children are introduced to the role of a palaeontologist and an historian.

Children take part in fossil hunting, dinosaur excavation in sand trays, making fossils in clay or dough, building dinosaur habitats and terrariums, and creating volcano models. Children explore the life cycle of a dinosaur, learn about dinosaur eggs, and do investigations such as an egg drop science experiment. This topic provides lots of opportunities for Science “WOW” moments. They may also bake dinosaur nests and explore stories about hatching eggs and baby dinosaurs.

Geographical vocabulary such as volcano, earthquake, and landscape are introduced as children learn about what the Earth may have been like when dinosaurs lived.

• Phonics: Children continue learning new graphemes through Unlocking Letters and Sounds Phase 3. They practise blending longer words, reading simple sentences, and writing words using the sounds they know.
• Mathematics: Children develop a deep understanding of numbers to 10, including recalling number bonds through Number Sense Maths activities and games. They continue practising counting to 20 and use mathematical language to compare quantities, sizes, and patterns during dinosaur-themed activities.
• RE – Desert to Garden: Children learn about the season of Lent and begin to understand that it is a time to grow closer to Jesus and care for others. They listen to story of the last week of Jesus’ life, including the events of Holy Week, and learn that Jesus died and rose again on Easter Sunday. 

Term 5 – Safari animals

Children learn about animals that live in safari habitats and compare them with animals they already know.

Children create safari small-world play areas, learning about different animal habitats, exploring animal patterns and textures, and taking part in role-play safari adventures. Children also listen to and create their own animal stories. They explore maps of the world.

Children learn about animals and habitats. Communication and Language develops through describing animals and their behaviours.

• Phonics: Children continue Unlocking Letters and Sounds Phase 3, applying their phonics knowledge to read simple sentences and begin writing short captions and phrases independently.
• Mathematics: Children practise counting to 20 and explore the composition of numbers 6–9, understanding that numbers can be made from smaller parts. They develop confidence with number bonds to 10 through Number Sense Maths games and practical activities.
• RE – Ends of the Earth: We tell the story of the Ascension and Pentecost, when Jesus returned to his Father and promised that the Holy Spirit would come to guide the disciples and when the disciples received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the Church began.

Term 6 – Under the sea

Children learn about ocean habitats and different sea creatures.

We create ocean habitats and undersea landscapes with small world and sensory play. The children learn sea creature facts, making ocean art, investigate water, and learn about the importance of protecting the oceans.

They exploring marine life and habitats. Communication and Language develops through discussion and storytelling about sea adventures.

• Phonics: Children consolidate their learning from Unlocking Letters and Sounds, confidently applying their phonics knowledge to read books and write short sentences. They practise blending, segmenting, and recognising common tricky words as they prepare for the transition to Year 1.
• Mathematics: Children consolidate their understanding by confidently counting to 20, recalling number bonds to 10, and comparing quantities to 10 using language such as more, fewer, and equal. They apply their mathematical knowledge to solve simple problems and recognise patterns, supporting achievement of the ELGs in Number and Numerical Patterns.
• RE – Dialogue and Encounter: Children learn about the lives of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, our school Saints, and how they helped spread the message of Jesus. They also continue to develop an understanding of, and learn about other faiths in our community and the importance of respecting different beliefs.