“Every child deserves the best possible start in life and the support that enables them to fulfil their potential. Children develop quickly in the early years and a child’s experiences between birth and age five have a major impact on their future life chances. A secure, safe and happy childhood is important in its own right. Good parenting and high quality early learning together provide the foundation children need to make the most of their abilities and talents as they grow up”

Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage - setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. 2021)

At St. Peter’s we aim to provide a broad and balanced curriculum encompassed by the Christian ethos, which will enable each child to develop personally, socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically, creatively and intellectually to his/her full potential. Each child is valued as an individual - teaching and learning is based on the understanding that children develop at different rates.  

The curriculum in our Early Years class is delivered through a balance of adult-led and child-led learning. It incorporates everything we want the children to experience, learn and be able to do. Meeting all the requirements of the educational programmes in the statutory framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and the flexibility to allow us to respond quickly to children’s new interests and/or needs. Our children learn to share, co-operate, explore and investigate through a wide range of rich, varied and imaginative experiences.  

Our curriculum encompasses seven areas of learning and development. All areas of learning and development are important and interconnected. Three areas are particularly important for building a foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships, and thriving. 

These are called the prime areas: 

·       Communication and Language 

·       Physical development 

·       Personal, Social and Emotional development.  

Four areas help children to strengthen and apply the prime areas. These are called the specific areas:

·       Literacy 

·       Mathematics

·       Understanding the World

·       Expressive Arts and Design

During their time in our Early Years children are provided with a highly stimulating environment in which to learn and grow.  They have daily continued access to their own outdoor learning environment which ensures that teaching carefully takes into account the interests and dispositions to learning of all children in our care.