Our curriculum has been designed to recognise children’s prior learning, and our provision is sequenced to build on the experiences and end points the children have had in the years before they come to us.
This enables the children to succeed through cooperative and collaborative learning principles.
There is a strong emphasis on the Prime Areas of learning;
Physical Development, Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Communication and Language. We ensure there is a strong focus on communication and language and Mental Health and Wellbeing, in order to support the children in their transition back to education after the pandemic, and to prepare the children to move on to the Specific Areas of learning: Literacy. Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Art and Design, as outlined in the statutory framework for the EYFS.
At St Leonard’s Catholic Primary School, we recognise that how we communicate not only improves academic outcomes, but is a life skill to ensure success beyond school, in life and future employment, developing children’s thinking and understanding, which in turn promotes self-confidence, resilience and empathy which support the child’s well-being.
Our enabling environments and warm, skilful adult interactions support the children as they begin to link learning to their play and exploration, right from the start. We believe that high level engagement ensures high level attainment.
We therefore provide an engaging curriculum, linked to books, that maximises opportunities for meaningful cross-curricular links and learning experiences, as well as promoting the unique child by offering extended periods of play and sustained thinking.
As well as promoting discrete adult led teaching experiences, we follow children’s interests and ideas to foster a lifelong love of learning both in and outside of school.
By the end of the Reception year, our intent is to ensure that all children make at least good progress from their starting points, and are equipped with the skills and knowledge to have a smooth transition into Year 1.
