Reception Curriculum

EYFS Impact

EYFS Curriculum Intent

At Marlborough Road Academy, we believe every child deserves a happy, safe and nurturing start to their education. Our Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provides a stimulating and inclusive environment where children feel valued, confident and excited to learn.

Across our EYFS, we follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework, which sets out the requirements for learning and development in the early years. The framework identifies seven areas of learning, including three Prime Areas and four Specific Areas, which form the foundation of our curriculum.

Prime Areas

• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Communication and Language
• Physical Development

Specific Areas

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

These areas are carefully woven throughout our curriculum to ensure children develop the knowledge, skills and understanding needed for future success.

We recognise that every child is unique. By building strong relationships with children and their families, we develop a deep understanding of each child’s interests, strengths and next steps. We value the experiences children bring from home and previous settings and use these as a foundation for future learning.

Our ambitious EYFS curriculum is designed to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes children need to become successful learners. Through carefully planned experiences, purposeful play and high-quality adult interactions, children develop academically, socially, emotionally and physically. We create a language-rich environment that promotes communication, vocabulary development and a love of learning. Staff are trained to support speech and language development, including through ELKLAN strategies and WellComm assessment, ensuring children receive the support they need to thrive.

We celebrate the diversity of our school community and the wider world. Children learn about different cultures, faiths and celebrations, helping them develop respect, understanding and pride in their own identity and the identities of others.

Learning takes place both indoors and outdoors, with well-resourced environments designed to encourage curiosity, exploration and independence. Children have daily access to our extensive outdoor provision, where they can investigate, create, collaborate and take risks in a safe and supportive setting. Through opportunities to select resources, solve problems and follow their interests, children develop confidence, resilience and independence.

In EYFS, positive relationships are at the heart of our provision. Through Conscious Discipline and our class family ethos, children learn to care for others, take responsibility, and contribute positively to their community. We teach children to understand and regulate their emotions, develop resilience, and use effective problem-solving strategies to build respectful, healthy relationships with their peers.

Our aim is that every child leaves Nursery ready for Reception and every child leaves Reception ready for Year 1, having developed the knowledge, skills, confidence and love of learning needed to succeed in the next stage of their education.

To find out more about daily routines and learning opportunities in EYFS, please view our EYFS timetable on the school website.

Reception Implementation

In Reception, children build on the knowledge, skills and experiences developed in Nursery. Teaching continues to follow the Development Matters guidance and is carefully planned to ensure children make strong progress towards achieving the Early Learning Goals (ELGs) by the end of the year. Our curriculum also lays the foundations for successful transition into Key Stage 1 and the National Curriculum.

Children access a balance of high-quality adult-led teaching and purposeful continuous provision. Following direct teaching sessions, children are encouraged to apply, practise and deepen their learning through carefully designed challenges within the provision. As the year progresses, children develop increasing independence, resilience and ownership of their learning, becoming motivated and confident learners.

The structure of the Reception day mirrors that of Nursery, with longer adult-led sessions to reflect children's growing concentration and developmental needs. Daily learning includes phonics, early reading, writing, mathematics and opportunities to develop knowledge and skills across all areas of learning.

Our language-rich environment continues to support vocabulary development, communication and literacy. Children take part in daily Read Write Inc. Phonics sessions and are encouraged to apply their phonics knowledge through reading and writing opportunities across the curriculum. Adults model language, extend thinking and provide timely support to ensure all children make progress.

Continuous provision remains central to learning in Reception. Carefully planned indoor and outdoor environments allow children to revisit and embed taught skills while following their interests through play and exploration. Adults observe, assess and respond to children's needs, ensuring learning is both challenging and engaging.

Children continue to work collaboratively through age-appropriate Kagan cooperative learning structures, helping them develop communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Teaching is underpinned by Rosenshine’s Principles of Instruction, including modelling, guided practice, questioning, retrieval and regular review, ensuring new learning is secured and retained.

Reception Experiences

We believe every child should experience a range of memorable learning opportunities during their Reception year, including:

• Baking from scratch
• Performing a dragon dance
• Observing and discussing a life cycle
• Taking part in a Nativity performance
• Educational visits and trips
• Treasure hunts and outdoor exploration

These experiences enrich learning, broaden children's understanding of the world and create lasting memories.