INTENT
At Smallthorne Primary Academy, we recognise that the first years of school provide the essential foundations for future success. Our Early Years provision is designed to ensure that every child develops the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to thrive in Reception, Key Stage 1 and beyond.
Our curriculum is guided by the EYFS Statutory Framework and reflects the principles outlined in Ofsted’s Strong Foundations in the First Years of School report, which emphasises the importance of secure early learning in communication, reading, writing, mathematics and behaviour.
We prioritise the development of core foundational knowledge and skills, ensuring children gain the secure understanding they need before moving on to more complex learning.
Our Early Years curriculum focuses on four key foundations:
Communication and Language
Language development underpins all learning. Children develop rich vocabulary, listening skills and confidence in speaking through sustained interactions, storytelling, discussion and purposeful play.
Early Reading
Reading is central to our Early Years curriculum. Through daily phonics teaching and regular opportunities to listen to and share high-quality stories, children develop the decoding and comprehension skills needed to become confident readers.
Foundations for Writing
Children develop the early skills required for writing through oral language, storytelling, mark making, drawing and fine motor development. These experiences build the foundations for accurate handwriting, spelling and sentence construction in Key Stage 1.
Foundations for Mathematics
Children develop secure understanding of number through counting, comparison, pattern and early calculation. Mathematical learning focuses on depth of understanding, ensuring children build strong number sense.
Alongside these academic foundations, we place strong emphasis on developing self-regulation, independence, attention and positive learning behaviours, ensuring children are ready to engage with the demands of formal learning.
Our Early Years curriculum reflects the values of the Smallthorne Character & Arts curriculum, helping children develop curiosity, resilience, collaboration and creativity from the very beginning of their educational journey.
CHARACTER & ARTS ALIGNMENT
The Early Years curriculum supports the development of the whole child, linking closely with the Smallthorne Character & Arts approach.
Children develop early character through opportunities to:
Heritage
explore stories, traditions and experiences within their community
History
develop an awareness of past and present through stories, events and familiar experiences
Performing & Expressive Arts
express ideas and emotions through music, movement, drama and creative play
Sustainability
develop respect for the natural world through outdoor exploration and environmental learning
Enterprise
develop independence, problem-solving and collaboration through purposeful play and exploration
These experiences help children develop positive attitudes towards learning and build the confidence needed to succeed.
IMPLEMENTATION
Our Early Years curriculum is delivered through a carefully planned balance of explicit teaching, guided learning and purposeful play.
Learning experiences are designed to ensure children build the foundational knowledge identified as essential in the first years of school.
Language-Rich Learning Environment
Communication and language development is prioritised throughout the day.
Adults support children by:
• modelling rich and ambitious vocabulary
• extending conversations through sustained interactions
• encouraging storytelling and explanation
• asking open-ended questions that deepen thinking
These interactions ensure children develop the language needed to support reading, writing and learning across the curriculum.
Early Reading and Phonics
Early reading is prioritised across the Early Years.
Children participate in daily systematic phonics teaching, which supports them to:
• recognise sounds and letters
• blend sounds to read words
• develop accurate pronunciation and fluency
• build confidence in decoding unfamiliar words
Children also experience daily story time, shared reading and exposure to high-quality texts that develop vocabulary and comprehension.
Foundations for Writing
Children develop the early skills required for writing through:
• mark making and drawing
• storytelling and oral language
• fine motor development activities
• opportunities to experiment with letters and sounds
These experiences ensure children develop the control, vocabulary and sentence structures needed for writing in Key Stage 1.
Foundations for Mathematics
Mathematics teaching focuses on developing strong number sense.
Children explore:
• counting and comparing quantities
• recognising patterns and relationships
• understanding numbers and quantities
• early addition and subtraction
Concepts are revisited regularly to ensure secure understanding and fluency.
Learning Behaviours and Routines
Children are explicitly taught the routines and behaviours needed to succeed in school.
This includes developing:
• attention and listening skills
• turn-taking and collaboration
• independence in learning
• resilience when solving problems
These behaviours support children to engage confidently with learning in Key Stage 1.
Early Identification and Support
Staff work closely with families to understand each child’s starting point.
Children who require additional support receive early intervention through:
• targeted small-group teaching
• adapted learning experiences
• support from SEND professionals where appropriate
This ensures that every child can access the curriculum and make strong progress.
IMPACT
Children leave Reception with the strong foundations needed to succeed in Key Stage 1.
By the end of Reception, children:
• communicate confidently using a broad vocabulary
• demonstrate secure early reading and phonics knowledge
• understand key number concepts and mathematical relationships
• show curiosity and enthusiasm for learning
• work collaboratively and build positive relationships
• demonstrate independence, resilience and self-regulation
Measuring Impact
The impact of our Early Years provision is monitored through:
• ongoing observation and assessment
• progress towards the Early Learning Goals
• phonics and reading development
• pupil engagement and independence
• strong transition into Year 1
Through this approach, children develop the knowledge, confidence and learning behaviours needed to succeed in the next stage of their education.
At Smallthorne Primary Academy, our Early Years provision ensures every child builds strong foundations to Smile, Strive and Shine throughout their education.