"The school has designed an ambitious curriculum." Ofsted Inspection, March 2024

Our Curriculum 

Our staff have high expectations of all children. We have an ambitious curriculum that provides a wide range of experiences and activities to support children's development and learning. We closely observe children and follow their interests whilst introducing them to new concepts, skills and vocabulary to enable them to access the full breadth and depth of the curriculum.

We use OPAL Spotlights alongside the DfE's Development Matters guidance to assess children's development and plan the next steps they need to take in their learning. We make any necessary adaptions to the ordinarily available provision to meet children's individual needs. This ensures all children are effectively supported to make progress. 

Staff engage in play with children to challenge and inspire their creativity, curiosity and interests and to develop their enthusiasm to learn and discover more. 

STAR approach to learning

The core skills, knowledge and vocabulary that we want children to develop are woven through the learning opportunities that we provide children through:

• Explicit teaching in adult-led sessions
• Adult-supported play
• Children's self-chosen independent play activities

We use the STAR approach to planning the teaching of children's learning:

Select (what we want children to learn - why this? why now?)

Teach (and address any misunderstandings / gaps in knowledge)

Activate (provide opportunities for children to try out / explore learning)

Review (re-visit and check learning has been embedded)

Play is our children's work! Play activities are intentionally set up by staff to enable children to independently explore and test out their learning. This supports children to re-visit, develop, deepen, practice and refine their knowledge, skills and vocabulary effectively, at their own pace and following their own interests. 

Our 10 Curriculum Goals

Our curriculum goals are things that we want all children to be able to know or do by the time they leave the setting. They have been developed through professional discussion, observations of children's play and learning, and conversations with children and parents about what is important to them.

We understand that each child is unique and will learn and develop in different ways and at different rates and our play-based curriculum is designed to help all children thrive and to enjoy their learning during their time with us.

For each curriculum goal there is a corresponding 'progression pathway' that outlines key developmental milestones and what we will do to support learning in each area.

Click on the links below to open the individual pathways.