Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) at High Down Infant School

At High Down, we are passionate about providing a warm, nurturing and stimulating environment where children can flourish during these important early years of their education. Our indoor and outdoor learning spaces provide rich opportunities for children to learn through playing and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically.

We believe children learn best when their experiences are meaningful, engaging and connected. Our curriculum is carefully planned across different areas of learning, while also responding to children's interests and individual needs. Through a balance of play, real-life experiences and purposeful activities, children are encouraged to make connections, develop their understanding and become enthusiastic learners. We provide appropriate challenge for every child, alongside high expectations, so that all children are supported to achieve their very best.

Our EYFS Curriculum

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, which sets out the learning and development requirements for children from birth to five years. The framework is organised into seven areas of learning, divided into the three prime areas and four specific areas.

The prime areas are:

• Communication and language

• Physical development

• Personal, social and emotional development

The specific areas are:

• Literacy

• Mathematics

• Understanding the world

• Expressive arts and design

Together, these areas of learning support children in developing the knowledge, skills and understanding reflected in the 17 Early Learning Goals (ELGs), which children work towards achieving by the end of their Reception year.

Alongside the content of the curriculum, we place great importance on the Characteristics of Effective Learning. These encourage children to develop resilience and perseverance, think creatively, explore their own ideas, make connections and become confident, independent learners.

Learning Through Play

We provide a carefully considered balance of adult-led and child-initiated learning. Children learn through play and exploration, short carpet sessions and carefully planned adult-guided activities. Play remains at the heart of our Reception curriculum, while the balance gradually develops towards more adult-led learning as children prepare for the transition into Year 1.

Children's individual interests are an important part of our planning. During free-flow learning, they have opportunities to follow their own ideas, investigate and experiment using open-ended resources that encourage creativity, imagination and flexible thinking. Real-life and hands-on experiences help children to develop their understanding and apply their learning in meaningful ways.

Alongside our play-based curriculum, children experience carefully structured teaching in key areas. Literacy, including reading and writing, is supported through a structured phonics programme, Unlocking Letters and Sounds (ULS), while Mathematics is taught through a mastery approach that develops and builds upon children's early mathematical understanding.

Learning Outdoors

Our Reception children benefit from daily access to our fully resourced outdoor provision, where they can develop their independence and confidence across all areas of learning. Our classrooms and outdoor spaces are thoughtfully organised to enable children to access resources independently, take ownership of their learning and explore within carefully created, enabling environments.

Our Nursery and Reception children also share our beautiful outdoor spaces at carefully planned points throughout the day. This provides valuable opportunities for children across the EYFS phase to develop friendships, build confidence and strengthen their social interactions with one another.

High-Quality Interactions

A fundamental part of teaching in the Early Years is the quality of interaction between children and adults. Our staff observe children carefully as they play, explore and learn, using these observations to understand their interests, strengths and next steps. Adults join children's play sensitively, extending their language, developing their vocabulary, deepening their thinking and helping them to build on what they already know.

Through this combination of purposeful teaching, high-quality interactions, play, exploration and rich experiences, we aim to ensure that every child feels valued, confident and excited about learning.

Our ultimate aim is for every child to leave Reception as a confident, curious and independent learner, equipped with the knowledge, skills and positive attitudes they need to thrive as they move into Year 1 and beyond.