The Early Years at Downsbrook 

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum is followed throughout the Reception year and sets the standards that all Early Years’ providers must meet to ensure that children learn and develop well and are kept healthy and safe. It promotes teaching and learning to ensure children’s ‘school readiness’ and gives children the broad range of knowledge and skills that provide the right foundation for good future progress through school and life. Through self-initiated learning, short taught inputs and purposeful play, pupils develop the prime skills, confidence, independence and a love of learning to prepare them for their journey through Downsbrook Primary School.

Within the Reception Year, learning experiences of the highest quality are planned and resourced to consider children’s interests, needs and achievements. Both child-initiated and teacher-led activities provide opportunities for all children to succeed in an atmosphere of care and of feeling valued. Well-planned play is a key way in which children learn with enjoyment and challenge, both within the indoor and outdoor learning environments. The curriculum for the Foundation Stage is designed to ignite children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, and to build their capacity to learn, form relationships, thrive and prepare for later learning. The curriculum is planned in seven areas of learning and development; all areas are important and inter-connected.

Our Early Years children follow a topic based approach to learning. Topics are designed to engage and ignite curious minds and to incorporate all seven areas of learning. 

Click here to view our Early Years Overview for the 23/24 academic year.