Early Years Curriculum
A joyful start to learning
At St John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, our Early Years Foundation Stage provides a warm, nurturing and inspiring start to each child’s school journey.
Rooted in our Catholic faith, we encourage children to grow with awe, wonder and curiosity, developing a love of learning through meaningful play, exploration and first-hand experiences. Our carefully designed EYFS curriculum supports children’s spiritual, emotional, social and academic development, helping them feel safe, confident and ready to learn.
Through creativity, imagination and a rich learning environment, we lay strong foundations for future learning while helping every child flourish as a unique individual.
Our EYFS Intent
What we want children to gain
Our aim is to support children to become:
Happy, confident and resilient learners
Curious explorers with a love of learning
Independent thinkers who are willing to have a go
Kind, respectful members of the school community
We place strong emphasis on:
Emotional wellbeing and positive relationships
Imagination, creativity and play
Awe and wonder in God’s world
Early language, communication and reading
Children are immersed in rich experiences that spark curiosity and joy, with regular “wow moments” that create lasting memories and deepen learning.
Our EYFS Curriculum
What children learn
Our curriculum follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and is carefully designed around children’s interests and developmental needs.
Children learn through the seven areas of learning:
Prime Areas
Communication and Language
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Physical Development
Specific Areas
Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the World
Expressive Arts and Design
Reading is at the heart of our curriculum. Children are immersed in high-quality texts, daily stories and rich talk, helping them develop strong language skills and a love of books from the very start.
How Learning Is Implemented
How children learn
Children learn best through play, exploration and meaningful interaction. Our EYFS provides:
A balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning
Daily opportunities for indoor and outdoor learning
Continuous provision that supports independence and creativity
Carefully planned activities linked to children’s next steps
We use:
Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised to teach early reading and phonics
Power Maths to develop early number sense through practical activities
High-quality resources and stimulating learning environments
Children also benefit from enrichment experiences such as visits, visitors and themed learning that link to imagination, awe and wonder.
Wellbeing, faith and relationships
Wellbeing is central to life in EYFS. Children are supported to:
Develop confidence and independence
Build positive friendships
Learn about healthy lifestyles and self-care
Religious Education is taught through The Way, The Truth and The Life, helping children learn about Jesus and the Catholic faith.
Children also learn about other faiths and celebrations, supporting respect, understanding and curiosity about the wider world.
Daily prayer and collective worship are a natural part of the school day.
Supporting children together
We value strong relationships with families and work closely with parents and carers through:
Transition visits and meetings
Stay and Play sessions
Tapestry online learning journeys
Regular communication and parent consultations
These partnerships help ensure every child settles happily, feels secure and makes strong progress.
Our EYFS aims to ensure children:
Make strong progress from their individual starting points
Develop the skills and confidence to be Year 1 ready
Achieve a Good Level of Development where possible
Assessment is ongoing and purposeful, using observation, professional judgement and statutory assessments to inform planning and support next steps.
Children leave EYFS as confident, curious learners, ready to begin their Key Stage 1 journey.