The St. John’s Curriculum Approach

In St John's EYFS, we encourage children to discover a passion for learning. Therefore, in Reception we weave a captivating and memorable learning journey based on both key learning areas and the children’s interests.  Our big picture ensures children have a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum covering key concepts and celebrations- explored through enquiry questions- with purposeful links to our school values, in keeping with our whole school curriculum vision. There is sufficient time within the big picture overview for learning based around the children’s interests, with flexible timings allowing teachers to ensure children flourish alongside things they love and introducing new concepts that excite our children. 

Our Reception curriculum fosters children’s academic, emotional and social development through both carpet time lessons and continuous provision (Get Learning), where children are able to learn through playing and exploring. Learning occurs in the well-resourced classroom and our stimulating outdoor area, equipped with texture kitchen, sand pit and water area. Through our creative and engaging curriculum, pupils leave Reception feeling confident, happy and ready for the challenges of Year 1 both academically and socially.

Progression towards Early Learning Goals

We have used a range of research and resources to break down the end of year Early Learning Goals into small steps in progression, considering the context, abilities and experiences of the children on arrival to our school. These small step progressions are taught through adult-led teaching sessions, group times, 1:1 teaching and through our wider environment learning.

From these documents, we have formulated milestones, which form the basis of assessment throughout the year in addition to the final assessment against the ELGs.

To find out more about our Early Years curriculum, please click on the link below, which will take you to our policies page.