Intent: why do we teach what we teach?

At Five Lanes Primary School we place great value on the development of children as individuals and providing them with the skills, knowledge and understanding they need to prepare themselves for the challenges in Key Stage One and beyond. Our aim in the EYFS is to build strong foundations rooted in every child achieving their full potential and guiding them to be happy, curious and life-long learners. 

Our curriculum is the cultural capital we know our children need so that they can gain the knowledge, skills and understanding they require to be successful. Our EYFS setting provides opportunities to embed the right habits for learning through the Characteristics of Effective Teaching and Learning – Play and Exploration, Active Learning and Creative and Critical Thinking. 

Many of our children arrive below national expectations for their age and a proportion come from disadvantaged backgrounds and with varying needs. We prioritise our teaching to ensure our children are taught how to listen, speak, manage their own toileting needs and develop personal independence. We prioritise Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication and Language and Physical Development in our Nursery Curriculum. Our enabling environment and warm, skilful adult interactions support the children as they begin to link learning to their play and exploration. As our children transition into Reception, we focus on helping our children set and reflect on their own goals by aiming high and developing a love of reading, writing and number. 

We value imagination and creativity and seek to create a sense of enjoyment and fascination in learning through a vibrant continuous indoor and outdoor provision, alongside trips, visits and real life experiences. We believe that children learn best when provided with hands on opportunities and a meaningful and holistic curriculum.

Throughout Nursery and Reception, we follow children’s interests, ideas and recognise every child is unique. In providing opportunities for extended periods of child initiated play, working with our parents and providing an exciting and enabling environment, we know our children will be successful in their learning and development.