Early Years Foundation Stage
Hi, I am Mrs Dowling and I am the Assistant Head for Early Years at Moston Lane. I have always loved working with young children and from being 16 have had different jobs working with children from the ages of 0-8. After completing my teaching degree at University, I then went back to complete my Masters Degree in 'Early Childhood Development Studies' as it is a real interest of mine. It is a real privilege to help shape a child's life in the Early Years and then watch them progress throughout their time in primary school, it is a journey myself and all my team in the Early Years, are extremely grateful to be a part of.
The Early Years Foundation Stage is the curriculum provided for children aged 0-5. This is the curriculum followed in Nursery and Reception at Moston Lane Primary School. It is broken down into seven areas of learning for the children, prime and specific areas of learning.
The prime areas of learning are Communication and Language, Physical Development and Personal, Social and Emotional Development.
The specific areas of learning are Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design.
Our Curriculum Intent
Our aim at Moston Lane Primary School is to encourage our children to become autonomous individuals with high aspirations, who leave Reception secure in their prime and specific areas of learning and ready and eager to access Key Stage 1 curriculum. Our Early Years curriculum covers a wide range of topics, that are flexible, to ensure they include children’s interests and engage, inspire and enthuse children throughout their time in the Foundation Stage. Our inclusive curriculum provides all children with a sense of belonging and an understanding of the contribution they can make in their community and in the wider world. Our curriculum emphasizes the value of play and oracy, empowering children to develop ambition, express their opinions, and confidently stand up for what they believe in. As a Nurture school, our curriculum is underpinned by a loving and caring ethos, with a focus on supporting the social and emotional development of pupils and families.
Implementation
Our curriculum is designed using our specialist knowledge of early childhood development and carefully crafted to meet the needs of our pupils. We heavily focus on the prime areas of learning in Nursery as we know these are the foundations for all learning. We actively promote the Characteristics of Effective Learning by creating an environment where children are encouraged to play, explore, and think critically. We nurture curiosity and independence by offering open-ended resources and child-led experiences that inspire active learning. Through hands-on activities, children are supported to remain engaged, show resilience, and develop perseverance when faced with challenges. We value the process of learning as much as the outcome, encouraging children to express their ideas, make connections, and reflect on their experiences. Our skilled practitioners observe and respond to each child's interests, helping them to develop the confidence and motivation to become lifelong learners.
In Nursery and Reception our continuous provision consists of a carefully planned, enabling environment that supports all seven areas of learning through accessible, engaging, and developmentally appropriate resources. Practitioners play a key role in enhancing this provision by observing children’s interests, assessing their development, and using this knowledge to plan meaningful experiences that extend learning. Through sensitive interactions, open-ended questioning, modelling language and the introduction of new vocabulary and concepts, practitioners scaffold children’s play and encourage deeper thinking. This approach ensures that the environment remains dynamic and responsive, helping every child to thrive and make progress across all areas of the EYFS.
In addition to the rich learning opportunities provided through continuous provision, children also participate in targeted, developmentally appropriate taught sessions delivered in varied group settings. In Nursery, these sessions may include key worker groups, circle times, and focused mathematics activities. As children progress to Reception, the daily routine becomes more structured, incorporating adult-led sessions in phonics, reading, mathematics, and writing. This balanced approach ensures that children benefit from both child-initiated learning and purposeful, skill-focused teaching, supporting their holistic development and readiness for future learning.
As a Foundation Stage team, we have collaborated to design a broad and balanced curriculum that offers rich opportunities to build on children’s prior knowledge. A strong emphasis on knowledge retrieval underpins the planning of our key themes, ensuring that learning is revisited and embedded over time. While our curriculum is carefully structured to ensure progression and coverage across all areas of learning, it remains flexible and responsive to the interests and developmental needs of the children. This approach enables us to provide meaningful, engaging experiences while ensuring that every child accesses the essential knowledge and skills needed to succeed.
Please see the link below to access a parent/carer friendly version of the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, so you can see how your child is progressing in each area in relation to their age.
Early Years Foundation Stage Framework for Parents and Carers
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Below is the ‘Curriculum Map’ which outlines the activities and skills that will be taught throughout the year.
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